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Fitness assistant vs fitness coach

The differences between fitness assistants and fitness coaches 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 fitness coach. Additionally, a fitness coach has an average salary of $38,462, which is higher than the $33,790 average annual salary of a fitness assistant.

The top three skills for a fitness assistant include CPR, AED and facility equipment. The most important skills for a fitness coach are CPR, kids, and fitness programs.

Fitness assistant vs fitness coach overview

Fitness AssistantFitness Coach
Yearly salary$33,790$38,462
Hourly rate$16.25$18.49
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs6,60922,156
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
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 fitness coach do?

A fitness coach specializes in mentoring clients in their journey for a healthier lifestyle, assisting them in reaching their individual goals for physical fitness. Their responsibilities include developing training programs based on the clients' needs, facilitating physical fitness training sessions in an individual or group setting, learning the clients' medical histories for risk prevention, and monitoring the progress of clients, adjusting programs as needed. Furthermore, as a fitness coach, it is essential to build rapport with clients, motivating them to reach their goals.

Fitness assistant vs fitness coach salary

Fitness assistants and fitness coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fitness AssistantFitness Coach
Average salary$33,790$38,462
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $48,000Between $24,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-AEA Investors
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between fitness assistant and fitness coach education

There are a few differences between a fitness assistant and a fitness coach in terms of educational background:

Fitness AssistantFitness Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitness assistant vs fitness coach demographics

Here are the differences between fitness assistants' and fitness coaches' demographics:

Fitness AssistantFitness Coach
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 45.3% Female, 54.7%Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7%
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 fitness coach 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.

Fitness coach example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Train new employees on sales tactics, and point-of-sale (POS) system.
  • Certify in CPR and first aid to attend appropriately to health issues of participants.
  • Certify in CPR and first response a medical training in order to provide immediate medical response to members in need.
  • Develop and conduct group/individual diabetes self-management educational sessions using evidence-base protocols.
  • Design each HIIT class to match the skill and modifications for all physical levels for all participants.
  • Show more

Fitness assistant vs fitness coach skills

Common fitness assistant skills
  • CPR, 21%
  • AED, 12%
  • Facility Equipment, 11%
  • Facility Maintenance, 9%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 9%
  • Bulletin Boards, 8%
Common fitness coach skills
  • CPR, 23%
  • Kids, 17%
  • Fitness Programs, 13%
  • Training Programs, 7%
  • Heart Rate, 6%
  • Injury Prevention, 4%

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