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Fitness assistant vs personal fitness trainer

The differences between fitness assistants and personal fitness 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 personal fitness trainer. Additionally, a personal fitness trainer has an average salary of $38,198, 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 personal fitness trainer are CPR, program design, and customer service.

Fitness assistant vs personal fitness trainer overview

Fitness AssistantPersonal Fitness Trainer
Yearly salary$33,790$38,198
Hourly rate$16.25$18.36
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs6,60933,387
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 personal fitness trainer do?

Personal Fitness Trainers are responsible for developing fitness plans entailing exercise routines for groups and individuals. Their duties include determining clients' health and fitness levels, facilitating exercise regimen completions, monitoring physical progress, and implementing individualized exercise plans. They are responsible for undertaking group and individual training sessions, supervising proper fitness equipment, and educating on comprehensive training techniques. Personal Fitness Trainers also assist in providing consultation regarding nutrition, health, and weight control inquiries. They ensure safety regulations are adhered to and can perform first aid.

Fitness assistant vs personal fitness trainer salary

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

Fitness AssistantPersonal Fitness Trainer
Average salary$33,790$38,198
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $48,000Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between fitness assistant and personal fitness trainer education

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

Fitness AssistantPersonal Fitness Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitness assistant vs personal fitness trainer demographics

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

Fitness AssistantPersonal Fitness Trainer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 45.3% Female, 54.7%Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2%
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 personal fitness 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.

Personal fitness trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Certify in basic CPR and emergency first aid.
  • Adhere to NASM and or NSCA conditioning standards.
  • Lead various group fitness exercises base on AFAA and NETA guidelines.
  • Monitor equipment maintenance and provide a range of aerobics, aqua, cycling, and stretch classes.
  • Organize Zumba fund raisers for members of the community with cancer, leukemia, autism and mental health disease.
  • Show more

Fitness assistant vs personal fitness trainer skills

Common fitness assistant skills
  • CPR, 21%
  • AED, 12%
  • Facility Equipment, 11%
  • Facility Maintenance, 9%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 9%
  • Bulletin Boards, 8%
Common personal fitness trainer skills
  • CPR, 26%
  • Program Design, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Group Training, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Injury Prevention, 5%

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