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Fitness manager vs fitness trainer

The differences between fitness managers and fitness trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fitness manager has an average salary of $44,522, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.

The top three skills for a fitness manager include CPR, cleanliness and program design. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.

Fitness manager vs fitness trainer overview

Fitness ManagerFitness Trainer
Yearly salary$44,522$28,702
Hourly rate$21.40$13.80
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs98,61123,881
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4737
Years of experience-12

What does a fitness manager do?

A fitness manager specializes in helping clients to fulfill their goals in health and lifestyle. Typically working in gyms and health facilities, they oversee fitness classes and supervise personal trainers to ensure efficiency and client satisfaction. They also participate in developing workout plans and programs, manage the facility's budget and schedules, offer gym memberships to potential clients, and monitor the conditions of equipment to ensure everyone's safety. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing the facility's policies and regulations.

What does a fitness trainer do?

The job of a fitness trainer is to instruct and motivate individuals and groups in physical activities, including stretching, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. The typical duties of a fitness trainer include demonstrating how to perform various exercises, guiding them during the exercise to improve fitness and minimize injuries, and monitoring their progress. As a fitness trainer, you are also responsible for explaining and enforcing safety rules on exercise equipment usage, recreational activities, and sports, and giving clients resources and information about weight control, lifestyle issues, and nutrition.

Fitness manager vs fitness trainer salary

Fitness managers and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Fitness ManagerFitness Trainer
Average salary$44,522$28,702
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $65,000Between $19,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityStamford, CTSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutHawaii
Best paying companyAEA InvestorsKohler Co.
Best paying industryHospitalityHospitality

Differences between fitness manager and fitness trainer education

There are a few differences between a fitness manager and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:

Fitness ManagerFitness Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Fitness manager vs fitness trainer demographics

Here are the differences between fitness managers' and fitness trainers' demographics:

Fitness ManagerFitness Trainer
Average age4737
Gender ratioMale, 65.3% Female, 34.7%Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage10%13%

Differences between fitness manager and fitness trainer duties and responsibilities

Fitness manager example responsibilities.

  • Supervise hiring and managing of personal trainers and group exercise instructors, including payroll information.
  • Establish a CPR and AFAA Pre-Training for instructors to comply with industry standards.
  • Individualize exercise prescription plan development and implementation, facility maintenance, payroll management, sales, recreation programming
  • Answer phones, handle any complaints and make sure everything run smoothly in the gym.

Fitness trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Monitor the swimming area and CPR certify.
  • Certify for CPR and a and always have first aid available.
  • Improve the cleanliness of the community recreations centers by implementing an hourly maintenance and cleaning schedule.
  • Maintain fitness center cleanliness while assisting members.
  • Assist in the cardiac rehabilitation clinic which include implementing progressive rehabilitation methods with education for long term health and wellness.
  • Show more

Fitness manager vs fitness trainer skills

Common fitness manager skills
  • CPR, 29%
  • Cleanliness, 14%
  • Program Design, 10%
  • Fitness Programs, 5%
  • Direct Reports, 5%
  • Punctuality, 5%
Common fitness trainer skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Front Desk, 28%
  • CPR, 24%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Physical Fitness, 2%
  • Fitness Equipment, 1%

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