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The differences between fitness instructors and life skills 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 life skills trainer. Additionally, a fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,495, which is higher than the $30,822 average annual salary of a life skills trainer.
The top three skills for a fitness instructor include CPR, customer service and work ethic. The most important skills for a life skills trainer are medication administration, therapeutic recreation, and medical appointments.
| Fitness Instructor | Life Skills Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,495 | $30,822 |
| Hourly rate | $17.06 | $14.82 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 31,212 | 39,666 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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.
Life skills trainers are personal health professionals who provide training assistance and supervision to patients, such as personal care, financial management, and social integration. These trainers are required to assist their clients with disabilities with daily living activities while documenting their behaviors and personal hygiene. They can organize therapeutic activities for individuals or groups to maximize their quality of life. Life skills trainers must also assist in meal preparation as well as perform tasks that include glucose monitoring, insulin therapy, and diabetes management.
Fitness instructors and life skills trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Instructor | Life Skills Trainer | |
| Average salary | $35,495 | $30,822 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $53,000 | Between $22,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a fitness instructor and a life skills trainer in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Instructor | Life Skills Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between fitness instructors' and life skills trainers' demographics:
| Fitness Instructor | Life Skills Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| 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% |