Fitness director vs group exercise instructor

The differences between fitness directors and group exercise instructors 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 director and a group exercise instructor. Additionally, a fitness director has an average salary of $53,238, which is higher than the $34,348 average annual salary of a group exercise instructor.

The top three skills for a fitness director include customer service, CPR and kids. The most important skills for a group exercise instructor are CPR, yoga, and kids.

Fitness director vs group exercise instructor overview

	Fitness Director	Group Exercise Instructor
Yearly salary	$53,238	$34,348
Hourly rate	$25.60	$16.51
Growth rate	19%	19%
Number of jobs	9,837	33,704
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	12	12

What does a fitness director do?

A fitness director manages a fitness facility's operations. These operations include creating fitness programs, monitoring staff, scheduling shifts, and even managing the fitness center budget. They can also train fitness instructors and even hire and terminate them. They procure the equipment necessary and make sure it works well and is safe. Aside from these tasks, fitness directors must also be akin to the needs of the center, decide on solutions, and have the ability to motivate clients to follow the program that was created for their betterment.

What does a group exercise instructor do?

A group exercise instructor is responsible for leading fitness training and programs for different class groups. Group exercise instructors develop correct conditioning techniques, as well as observing the proper form of the student from their movements and exercises. A group exercise instructor also recommends nutritional foods and beverages that would help the students maintain a healthy lifestyle and development. They identify each student's strengths and weaknesses and develop comprehensive training programs to address their needs.

Fitness director vs group exercise instructor salary

Fitness directors and group exercise instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fitness Director	Group Exercise Instructor
Average salary	$53,238	$34,348
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $85,000	Between $22,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Springfield, MA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	California
Best paying company	Google	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between fitness director and group exercise instructor education

There are a few differences between a fitness director and a group exercise instructor in terms of educational background:

	Fitness Director	Group Exercise Instructor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitness director vs group exercise instructor demographics

Here are the differences between fitness directors' and group exercise instructors' demographics:

	Fitness Director	Group Exercise Instructor
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 54.8% Female, 45.2%	Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5%
Race ratio	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%	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 Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between fitness director and group exercise instructor duties and responsibilities

Fitness director example responsibilities.

Manage business administration including cash management, budgets and payroll; interface with members and resolve conflicts.
Enforce fitness center policies and ensure cleanliness of fitness equipment and customer safety.
Create SaaS offering for global central booking and POS management.
Assist patrons in workouts design to improve structural integrity, cardio capacity, and overall fitness.
Provide staff with information to keep up CPR education and safety procedures according to policy within the facility.
Implement biannual employee safety training that consist of first aid, CPR training, and job-relate safety precautions.

Group exercise instructor example responsibilities.

Manage general fitness center cleanliness and coordinate group fitness instructor schedules
Create classes base on high intensity cardio and strength training using a wide array of fitness equipment.
Instruct a group of up to 50 people in exercises ranging from strength training to Zumba.
Maintain up keep and cleanliness of the facility, restocking cleaning supplies, cleaning fitness equipment, and re-racking weights.
Instruct classes and individuals in mat Pilates as well as on equipment including reformer, barrel, chair, and cadillac.
Group equipment classes including springboard.

Fitness director vs group exercise instructor skills

Common fitness director skills

Customer Service, 20%
CPR, 15%
Kids, 9%
Payroll, 7%
Yoga, 5%
Training Sessions, 4%

Common group exercise instructor skills

CPR, 36%
Yoga, 14%
Kids, 8%
Customer Service, 7%
AFAA, 6%
Zumba, 4%

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Fitness Director vs Group Exercise Instructor

Updated January 8, 2025

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