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Job outlook for fitness assistants in the United States
Fitness assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected fitness assistant job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 57,800 new jobs for fitness assistants are projected over the next decade.
Fitness assistant salaries have increased 6% for fitness assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 38,735 fitness assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 6,609 active fitness assistant job openings in the US.
The average fitness assistant salary is $33,790.
Are fitness assistant jobs in demand?
Fitness assistant job and salary trends over time
Fitness assistant jobs over time
Fitness assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38,735 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 43,362 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 56,897 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 53,920 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 48,957 | 0.01% |
Average fitness assistant salary over time
Fitness assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,790 | $16.25 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $33,690 | $16.20 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $33,214 | $15.97 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $32,705 | $15.72 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $31,830 | $15.30 | +5.5% |
Fitness assistant jobs by state
Most common states for fitness assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 168 | 5% |
| 2 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 518 | 4% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 352 | 4% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 288 | 4% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 205 | 4% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 46 | 4% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 29 | 4% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 28 | 4% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 369 | 3% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 329 | 3% |
| 11 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 179 | 3% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 174 | 3% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 149 | 3% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 109 | 3% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 93 | 3% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 73 | 3% |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 49 | 3% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 46 | 3% |
| 19 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 36 | 3% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 34 | 3% |
Most common cities for fitness assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arvada | 7 | 6% | $36,907 |
| 2 | Castle Rock | 3 | 5% | $37,031 |
| 3 | Westminster | 4 | 4% | $36,884 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | 2 | 0% | $37,199 |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $32,016 |
Fitness Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of fitness assistant experts
Endicott College
University of Arkansas
Howard University
Next College Student Athlete
CREP - Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals
University of Southern Mississippi
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 Assistant 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 Assistants 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 Assistants?
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 Assistants 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 Assistant 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 Assistant 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Fitness Assistants?
Dr. Jason Perry: It is unclear what the long-term effects will be on the sports business industry moving forward. A lot is unknown of how live sporting events will be impacted in the future. We may find that fans do not rush back to attend games in-person as they did prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, leaving some gaps in the positions that employers are hiring for in the foreseeable future.
However, it is likely that many facets of the industry will continue to move towards making processes easier for consumers through technology even after the pandemic. As a result, graduates must be tech-savvy. Further they must be flexible and possess the ability to adapt quickly as changes occur related to the pandemic. Graduates that have obtained practical work experience that has introduced them to various job responsibilities in the field can stand out in the talent pool.
A specific job experience on a graduate's resume can be the deciding factor in receiving an interview during these challenging times. Previous experience in the desired area of employment can also help graduates to adapt more quickly to working in a new position during the pandemic.
What type of skills will young Fitness Assistants need?
Dr. Jason Perry: It is best that graduates have some of the traditional skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, organizational, and time management. In addition, depending on the position in the sports business industry, the ability to handle a fast-paced work environment is important. These skills translate well in a variety of business environments and employers are looking to add those who adapt well to their organizational landscape.
Additional skills that are key at this time include analytical, critical thinking, digital, and emotional intelligence. I think that emotional intelligence should be on the top of the list of skills that young professionals should have as they transition into careers in sports and recreation. The ability to foster meaningful relationships with people in the workplace and the capacity to manage stress, conflicts, and one's emotions is needed to finding sustainability in the profession.
What type of skills will young Fitness Assistants need?
Lisa Strasman: Adaptability, great communication skills, time-management, strong work ethic/grit, teamwork, resilience, humility.
Brian Biagioli
Immediate Past PresidentCREP - Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals
What type of skills will young Fitness Assistants need?
Brian Biagioli: Regardless of the type of job a professional pursues in the fitness or sports industry, employers cite three critical areas of deficiency among new graduates: (1) business acumen and communication skills; (2) proficiency in human engagement; and (3) a lack of organizational efficiencies, related to task completion. Many graduates have a skill set associated with the technical competencies of being in the fitness or sports industry; these are often tested successfully on certification exams, but they lack business and corporate/organizational insight. These skills require positive internship experiences and mentoring and should be a capstone of any educational process.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Fitness Assistants to find work opportunities?
Jeff Mitchell: I encourage young graduates to choose where they want to live and thrive and limit their work options based solely on location. We're seeing more flexibility in the workplace today as remote collaboration has proven successful.