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The differences between fitness instructors and fitness specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,495, which is higher than the $32,472 average annual salary of a fitness specialist.
The top three skills for a fitness instructor include CPR, customer service and work ethic. The most important skills for a fitness specialist are CPR, fitness assessments, and ACSM.
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,495 | $32,472 |
| Hourly rate | $17.06 | $15.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 31,212 | 28,175 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 Specialist is focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and working with clients in various settings. They teach individuals or groups how to properly perform exercises and use exercise equipment.
Fitness instructors and fitness specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,495 | $32,472 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | University Settlement |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a fitness instructor and a fitness specialist in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 specialists' demographics:
| Fitness Instructor | Fitness Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% |
| 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% |