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The differences between fitness specialists and group exercise instructors 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 group exercise instructor. Additionally, a group exercise instructor has an average salary of $34,348, which is higher than the $32,472 average annual salary of a fitness specialist.
The top three skills for a fitness specialist include CPR, fitness assessments and ACSM. The most important skills for a group exercise instructor are CPR, yoga, and kids.
| Fitness Specialist | Group Exercise Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $32,472 | $34,348 |
| Hourly rate | $15.61 | $16.51 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 28,175 | 33,704 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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.
A group exercise instructor is responsible for leading fitness training and programs for different class groups. Group exercise instructors develop correct conditioning techniques, as well as observing the proper form of the student from their movements and exercises. A group exercise instructor also recommends nutritional foods and beverages that would help the students maintain a healthy lifestyle and development. They identify each student's strengths and weaknesses and develop comprehensive training programs to address their needs.
Fitness specialists and group exercise instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Specialist | Group Exercise Instructor | |
| Average salary | $32,472 | $34,348 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $42,000 | Between $22,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | University Settlement | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a fitness specialist and a group exercise instructor in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Specialist | Group Exercise Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 group exercise instructors' demographics:
| Fitness Specialist | Group Exercise Instructor | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% |
| 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% |