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The differences between fitness instructors 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 instructor and a certified personal trainer. Additionally, a fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,495, which is higher than the $32,039 average annual salary of a certified personal trainer.
The top three skills for a fitness instructor include CPR, customer service and work ethic. The most important skills for a certified personal trainer are CPR, customer service, and injury prevention.
| Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,495 | $32,039 |
| Hourly rate | $17.06 | $15.40 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 31,212 | 65,615 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A fitness instructor advocates good physical health by crafting different fitness programs and providing fitness training sessions to a group of clients or individuals. They focus on different kinds of work-out and exercise routines. A fitness instructor mostly works at a gym; however, there are instances when one can work independently or by providing house calls. Furthermore, a fitness instructor needs to build rapport with clients, making them feel at ease during sessions, which will also be beneficial in gaining a strong client base.
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 instructors and certified personal trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Average salary | $35,495 | $32,039 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $53,000 | Between $21,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | City and County of Denver Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a fitness instructor and a certified personal trainer in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between fitness instructors' and certified personal trainers' demographics:
| Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% |
| 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% |