Exercise science instructor vs fitness director

The differences between exercise science instructors and fitness directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an exercise science instructor and a fitness director. Additionally, a fitness director has an average salary of $53,238, which is higher than the $32,209 average annual salary of an exercise science instructor.

The top three skills for an exercise science instructor include exercise physiology, yoga and ACSM. The most important skills for a fitness director are customer service, CPR, and kids.

Exercise science instructor vs fitness director overview

	Exercise Science Instructor	Fitness Director
Yearly salary	$32,209	$53,238
Hourly rate	$15.49	$25.60
Growth rate	19%	19%
Number of jobs	30,055	9,837
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	12	12

Exercise science instructor vs fitness director salary

Exercise science instructors and fitness directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Exercise Science Instructor	Fitness Director
Average salary	$32,209	$53,238
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $51,000	Between $33,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	-	Springfield, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Google
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between exercise science instructor and fitness director education

There are a few differences between an exercise science instructor and a fitness director in terms of educational background:

	Exercise Science Instructor	Fitness Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Exercise science instructor vs fitness director demographics

Here are the differences between exercise science instructors' and fitness directors' demographics:

	Exercise Science Instructor	Fitness Director
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%	Male, 54.8% Female, 45.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between exercise science instructor and fitness director duties and responsibilities

Exercise science instructor example responsibilities.

Manage general fitness center cleanliness and coordinate group fitness instructor schedules
Choreograph and teach Zumba dance exercise
Teach water fitness and Zumba to residents.
Teach open level/advance Pilates mat and reformer classes
Provide professional personal training and group exercise instruction services for individuals of all ages and ability levels, including rehabilitation phases.
Manage LEGO camps using set curriculum.

Fitness director example responsibilities.

Manage business administration including cash management, budgets and payroll; interface with members and resolve conflicts.
Enforce fitness center policies and ensure cleanliness of fitness equipment and customer safety.
Create SaaS offering for global central booking and POS management.
Assist patrons in workouts design to improve structural integrity, cardio capacity, and overall fitness.
Provide staff with information to keep up CPR education and safety procedures according to policy within the facility.
Implement biannual employee safety training that consist of first aid, CPR training, and job-relate safety precautions.

Exercise science instructor vs fitness director skills

Common exercise science instructor skills

Exercise Physiology, 23%
Yoga, 20%
ACSM, 12%
Health Education, 7%
Exercise Program, 6%
Zumba, 5%

Common fitness director skills

Customer Service, 20%
CPR, 15%
Kids, 9%
Payroll, 7%
Yoga, 5%
Training Sessions, 4%

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Exercise Science Instructor vs Fitness Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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