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The differences between fitness instructors 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 instructor and a fitness coach. Additionally, a fitness coach has an average salary of $38,462, which is higher than the $35,495 average annual salary of a fitness instructor.
The top three skills for a fitness instructor include CPR, customer service and work ethic. The most important skills for a fitness coach are CPR, kids, and fitness programs.
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Yearly salary | $35,495 | $38,462 |
| Hourly rate | $17.06 | $18.49 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 31,212 | 22,156 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 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 instructors and fitness coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Average salary | $35,495 | $38,462 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | AEA Investors |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a fitness instructor and a fitness coach in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 fitness coaches' demographics:
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% |
| 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% |