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The differences between fitness instructors and personal fitness 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 personal fitness trainer. Additionally, a personal fitness trainer has an average salary of $38,198, 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 personal fitness trainer are CPR, program design, and customer service.
| Fitness Instructor | Personal Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,495 | $38,198 |
| Hourly rate | $17.06 | $18.36 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 31,212 | 33,387 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
Personal Fitness Trainers are responsible for developing fitness plans entailing exercise routines for groups and individuals. Their duties include determining clients' health and fitness levels, facilitating exercise regimen completions, monitoring physical progress, and implementing individualized exercise plans. They are responsible for undertaking group and individual training sessions, supervising proper fitness equipment, and educating on comprehensive training techniques. Personal Fitness Trainers also assist in providing consultation regarding nutrition, health, and weight control inquiries. They ensure safety regulations are adhered to and can perform first aid.
Fitness instructors and personal fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Instructor | Personal Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $35,495 | $38,198 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $53,000 | Between $25,000 And $57,000 |
| 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 personal fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Instructor | Personal Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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 personal fitness trainers' demographics:
| Fitness Instructor | Personal Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8% | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% |
| 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% |