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Fitness assistant vs certified personal trainer

The differences between fitness assistants and certified personal trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a fitness assistant and a certified personal trainer. Additionally, a fitness assistant has an average salary of $33,790, which is higher than the $32,039 average annual salary of a certified personal trainer.

The top three skills for a fitness assistant include CPR, AED and facility equipment. The most important skills for a certified personal trainer are CPR, customer service, and injury prevention.

Fitness assistant vs certified personal trainer overview

Fitness AssistantCertified Personal Trainer
Yearly salary$33,790$32,039
Hourly rate$16.25$15.40
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs6,60965,615
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a fitness assistant do?

It is the responsibility of a fitness assistant to ensure the safety of fitness center patrons in facilities. Fitness assistants help in facility equipment and protocol while implementing the facility's rules and verifying the right determination of entering patrons. They organize and maintain paperwork with regards to a facility like excel spreadsheets. Part of their job is to manage the accounts and billings of every member along with great customer service. Also, they handle personal training, group exercise, and health promotion.

What does a certified personal trainer do?

A Certified Personal Trainer is a person who will guide, help, and motivate you to move forward and become successful. Anyone with a mastery of a specific subject can become a personal trainer; however, certification is given only by accredited organizations that can offer licensure or certification programs. Many hope to find their own certified personal trainer in this hectic and convoluted society to accompany them through thick and thin in life.

Fitness assistant vs certified personal trainer salary

Fitness assistants and certified personal trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fitness AssistantCertified Personal Trainer
Average salary$33,790$32,039
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $48,000Between $21,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-City and County of Denver Government
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between fitness assistant and certified personal trainer education

There are a few differences between a fitness assistant and a certified personal trainer in terms of educational background:

Fitness AssistantCertified Personal Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitness assistant vs certified personal trainer demographics

Here are the differences between fitness assistants' and certified personal trainers' demographics:

Fitness AssistantCertified Personal Trainer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 45.3% Female, 54.7%Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between fitness assistant and certified personal trainer duties and responsibilities

Fitness assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Perform emergency care if need such as CPR
  • Execute first aid or CPR when need.
  • Assist in the cardiac rehabilitation clinic which include implementing progressive rehabilitation methods with education for long term health and wellness.
  • Prepare for health emergencies within facility using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automate external defibrillator, and train trauma or injury assistance.

Certified personal trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Train in CPR in case of emergencies.
  • Develop circuit training and small group Pilates classes.
  • Instruct Pilates classes and create a custom Pilates class for senior clients.
  • Coach and tutor colleagues on exercise science concepts as outlined in NASM certification material.
  • Assist in the cardiac rehabilitation clinic which include implementing progressive rehabilitation methods with education for long term health and wellness.
  • Show more

Fitness assistant vs certified personal trainer skills

Common fitness assistant skills
  • CPR, 21%
  • AED, 12%
  • Facility Equipment, 11%
  • Facility Maintenance, 9%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 9%
  • Bulletin Boards, 8%
Common certified personal trainer skills
  • CPR, 21%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Injury Prevention, 9%
  • Group Training, 6%
  • NASM, 6%
  • Weight Loss, 5%

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