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Job outlook for fitness instructors in the United States
Fitness instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected fitness instructor job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 57,800 new jobs for fitness instructors are projected over the next decade.
Fitness instructor salaries have increased 6% for fitness instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 63,049 fitness instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 31,212 active fitness instructor job openings in the US.
The average fitness instructor salary is $35,495.
Are fitness instructor jobs in demand?
Fitness instructor job and salary trends over time
Fitness instructor jobs over time
Fitness instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63,049 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 70,580 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 92,610 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 87,765 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 79,687 | 0.02% |
Average fitness instructor salary over time
Fitness instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,495 | $17.07 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | $35,390 | $17.01 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $34,891 | $16.77 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $34,356 | $16.52 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $33,436 | $16.08 | +5.5% |
Fitness instructor jobs by state
Most common states for fitness instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 547 | 10% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 721 | 9% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 65 | 9% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 52 | 9% |
| 5 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 404 | 8% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 341 | 8% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 83 | 8% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 76 | 8% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 781 | 7% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 732 | 7% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 617 | 7% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 75 | 7% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 429 | 6% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 341 | 6% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 197 | 6% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 48 | 6% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 35 | 6% |
| 18 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,128 | 5% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 154 | 5% |
| 20 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 78 | 5% |
Most common cities for fitness instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coronado | 1 | 4% | $50,259 |
| 2 | Blaine | 1 | 2% | $36,453 |
| 3 | Bradenton | 1 | 2% | $31,804 |
| 4 | Downers Grove | 1 | 2% | $31,214 |
| 5 | Eagan | 1 | 2% | $36,475 |
| 6 | Elmhurst | 1 | 2% | $31,219 |
| 7 | Lakewood | 2 | 1% | $39,234 |
| 8 | Berkeley | 1 | 1% | $51,740 |
| 9 | Brandon | 1 | 1% | $31,687 |
| 10 | Centennial | 1 | 1% | $39,240 |
| 11 | Folsom | 1 | 1% | $50,870 |
| 12 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $31,249 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $50,691 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $39,206 |
| 15 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $50,457 |
| 16 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $31,190 |
| 17 | Gilbert | 1 | 0% | $39,218 |
Fitness Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of fitness instructor experts
Eastern Kentucky University
University of Nebraska - Kearney
Endicott College
University of Arkansas
Northwestern University
Youngstown State University
What general advice would you give to a Fitness Instructor?
John John Petrizzo PT, DPT, CSCS: I think that having good people skills will become increasingly important in our field in the next few years. You can be knowledgeable, but if you can't communicate what you know well to others, it is going to hurt your chances of being successful.
What Fitness Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John John Petrizzo PT, DPT, CSCS: I would encourage a graduate beginning their career in the field to be open to new opportunities as you never know where they might take you.
What will help Fitness Instructors increase their earning potential?
John John Petrizzo PT, DPT, CSCS: There are several things you can do to maximize your salary potential when starting your career in the field. First, I would suggest taking advantage of the fact that there are a lot of job opportunities out there right now. I think it is certainly possible for new graduates to get multiple job offers, so they should take the time to make sure the job they select is the right fit for them. Additionally, for motivated individuals, it is not uncommon for new graduates to be able to work multiple jobs. Personally, I have always maintained some form of part-time work in addition to my full-time job. I do so because I enjoy it, and it allows me to live a little bit more comfortably than if I was reliant on a single source of income. Lastly, I would encourage new graduates to get a good quality certification from a nationally-recognized organization such as the ACSM or the NSCA.
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN
AT Program Director | ProfessorEastern Kentucky University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What Fitness Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN: Adaptability is the first skill that jumps to mind. Graduates need to know the foundational knowledge but I believe how we apply the knowledge and skills will continue to change. Kinesiology is a broad field that is often a starting point for individuals interested in athletic training, exercise physiology, fitness and wellness, physical therapy, and many other possible fields. Each of these fields requires the professional to know their information but more importantly, how to relay that to the client/patient in a way that impacts and brings change. With that being said, graduates need to work on the soft-skills as much they do in understanding the content of their field.
Greg Brown
Professor , Dept. of Kinesiology and Sport SciencesUniversity of Nebraska - Kearney
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Fitness Instructor?
Greg Brown: A lot of undergraduate students in Kinesiology are planning to move on to post-graduate education in allied health (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training, etc.) so their career advice will come from those allied health professionals. For those students going into a career right out of their undergraduate program, typically in the health and fitness industry (e.g. personal training, strength & conditioning, health coaching, corporate wellness), they need to keep an eye on budding trends in the industry and not jump on the latest fad. Basically, a trend is something that is new or innovative that also has staying power and will still be viable in a few years. Fads often seem too good to be true and only last a short time before fading away. Think of wearable technology as a trend while Tae Bo was more of a fad.
What Fitness Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Greg Brown: A lot of undergraduate students in Kinesiology are planning to move on to post graduate education in allied health (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training, etc.) so their career advice will come from those allied health professionals.
For those students going into a career right out of their undergraduate program, typically in the health and fitness industry (e.g. personal training, strength & conditioning, health coaching, corporate wellness), they need to keep an eye for budding trends in the industry and not jump on the latest fad. Basically, a trend is something that is new or innovative that also has staying power and will still be viable in a few years. Fads often seem too good to be true and only last a short time before fading away. Think of wearable technology as a trend while Tae Bo was more of a fad.
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.
Associate Dean, School of Sport Science, Clinical Coordinator of Athletic TrainingEndicott College
School of Sport Science
What skills stand out on Fitness Instructor resumes?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: The obvious skills are one's knowledge of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and exercise. However, I believe that the most important skill is a person's ability to synthesize their scientific knowledge and effectively apply it in practice.
What soft skills should all Fitness Instructors possess?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Communication is the most important soft skill any new and seasoned professional can have. Effective communication demonstrates your command of the information and situation at hand and assists in earning the trust and respect of your clients and peers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Fitness Instructors?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Exercise scientists are well-versed in various areas, including exercise assessment, exercise programming, biomechanics, exercise instruction, and patient/client education.
What skills will help Fitness Instructors earn the most?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: There are numerous settings Exercise Scientists can work in. I believe that the most important skills to become successful include effective communication, active listening, compassion, being a team player, and critical thinking. Regardless of your work setting, if you possess these characteristics and skills, your professional growth ceiling is endless.
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Exercise ScienceUniversity of Arkansas
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Fitness Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: The fitness industry was devasted by COVID-19. Many fitness facilities were forced to shut their doors due to state and local regulations causing many to close permanently. The facilities that were able to hang on found creative ways to interact with their clients. The primary form was through virtual formats such as Zoom. This has never been attempted in the past, but COVID has forced the fitness industry to make significant changes in the way it interacts with clients. Never before have we had the opportunity to go into our clients' homes and expand our reach.
What technical skills for a Fitness Instructor stand out to employers?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: Employers are looking for individuals that can do it all. In my own gym, the owner/manager is seeking applicants that have knowledge in group fitness, personal training, and general facility management. Most employers are ok training on the specific aspects of their gym, but need self-driven and internally motivated employees that will help move the gym to the next level.
What experience really stands out on Fitness Instructor resumes?
Helen Callus: It depends on what kinds of position you are applying for, and for performance students, it's going to be playing or teaching mostly. I recommend that students tailor their resumes to suit the positions, so teaching should be prioritized, and the outline should lead to that. I encourage them to put together their overview and then look at gaps - teaching experience, perhaps some administrative experiences that are always helpful.
If they don't have those things, actively search for them to add that line to their resumes. It can be a terrific way to develop the document in ways that can lead to better job success. A range of skills is most likely to appeal to a broader set of jobs. Doing multiple things (things we don't even realize we do, as musicians, daily) can be helpful. The student is then willing to be creative and open to start out doing things that are related but perhaps not their first choice.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Fitness Instructors?
Dragana Crnjak: This year brought many challenges, many drastically changing the ways artists and art institutions operate. The biggest challenge, perhaps, is that we don't know what are the long-term impacts, yet. Interesting is that on the one hand, the restrictions have opened potentials in expanded and vibrant global communication and online collaborations among artists. On the other hand, with these connections more available, I believe, artists are starting to build even stronger relationships with their neighborhoods, communities, regions, and, I hope, we start investing ourselves more fully to this self-sustainable kind of thinking, to create opportunities that will sustain and expand the quality of life and culture locally. We have already seen artists adapting and finding new ways to communicate and do work. I am sincerely optimistic that artists, with the skills I mentioned previously, will keep leading discoveries and finding innovative ways to stay creative.