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The differences between fitness specialists and 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 specialist and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a fitness specialist has an average salary of $32,472, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a fitness specialist include CPR, fitness assessments and ACSM. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Fitness Specialist | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $32,472 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $15.61 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 28,175 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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 specialists and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Specialist | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $32,472 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $42,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | University Settlement | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | Education | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a fitness specialist and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Specialist | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| 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 specialists' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Fitness Specialist | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% |
| 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% |