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Job outlook for fitness and wellness instructors in the United States
Are fitness and wellness instructor jobs in demand?
Fitness and wellness instructor job and salary trends over time
Fitness and wellness instructor jobs over time
Fitness and wellness instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 639 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 715 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 939 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 889 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 808 | 0.00% |
Average fitness and wellness instructor salary over time
Fitness and wellness instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,979 | $16.34 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $33,879 | $16.29 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $33,401 | $16.06 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $32,889 | $15.81 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $32,008 | $15.39 | +5.5% |
Fitness and wellness instructor jobs by state
Most common states for fitness and wellness instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 631 | 11% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 64 | 11% |
| 3 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 495 | 10% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 109 | 10% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 95 | 10% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 74 | 10% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 979 | 9% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 934 | 9% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 795 | 9% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 380 | 9% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 293 | 9% |
| 12 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 67 | 9% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 109 | 8% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 850 | 7% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 643 | 7% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 478 | 7% |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 323 | 7% |
| 18 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 94 | 7% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 94 | 7% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 79 | 7% |
Most common cities for fitness and wellness instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $32,534 |
Fitness And Wellness Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of fitness and wellness instructor experts
Endicott College
University of Arkansas
Belhaven University
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.
Associate Dean, School of Sport Science, Clinical Coordinator of Athletic TrainingEndicott College
School of Sport Science
What skills stand out on Fitness And Wellness Instructor resumes?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: The obvious skills are one's knowledge of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and exercise. However, I believe that the most important skill is a person's ability to synthesize their scientific knowledge and effectively apply it in practice.
What soft skills should all Fitness And Wellness Instructors possess?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Communication is the most important soft skill any new and seasoned professional can have. Effective communication demonstrates your command of the information and situation at hand and assists in earning the trust and respect of your clients and peers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Fitness And Wellness Instructors?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Exercise scientists are well-versed in various areas, including exercise assessment, exercise programming, biomechanics, exercise instruction, and patient/client education.
What skills will help Fitness And Wellness Instructors earn the most?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: There are numerous settings Exercise Scientists can work in. I believe that the most important skills to become successful include effective communication, active listening, compassion, being a team player, and critical thinking. Regardless of your work setting, if you possess these characteristics and skills, your professional growth ceiling is endless.
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Exercise ScienceUniversity of Arkansas
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Fitness And Wellness Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: The fitness industry was devasted by COVID-19. Many fitness facilities were forced to shut their doors due to state and local regulations causing many to close permanently. The facilities that were able to hang on found creative ways to interact with their clients. The primary form was through virtual formats such as Zoom. This has never been attempted in the past, but COVID has forced the fitness industry to make significant changes in the way it interacts with clients. Never before have we had the opportunity to go into our clients' homes and expand our reach.
What technical skills for a Fitness And Wellness Instructor stand out to employers?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: Employers are looking for individuals that can do it all. In my own gym, the owner/manager is seeking applicants that have knowledge in group fitness, personal training, and general facility management. Most employers are ok training on the specific aspects of their gym, but need self-driven and internally motivated employees that will help move the gym to the next level.
Dr. Benjamin Carr Ph.D.
Associate Professor and ChairBelhaven University
Department of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Faculty
How do you envision technology impacting Fitness And Wellness Instructors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Benjamin Carr Ph.D.: Technology is a vital part of all the occupations in sports medicine/exercise science, with most of the rehabilitative sciences' careers. Therapeutic modalities, such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cryotherapy, and infrared, are commonly employed in physical therapy, athletic training, and chiropractic. Since I don't work directly in those fields, I'm not a useful resource regarding the specifics of technology/equipment. From an educational standpoint, technology will be vital for moving more coursework to a virtual format shortly. Things like virtual cadavers and other physiological laboratory experiences will play a critical educational role over the next few years. Due to Covid-19, we've already moved a number of our courses to a strictly virtual format. Video conferencing technology, such as Zoom, has made this relatively easy. With Zoom's screen sharing and whiteboard capabilities, lecturing virtually has become a legitimate alternative to in-person courses.