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The differences between fitness trainers and fitness coaches 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 trainer and a fitness coach. Additionally, a fitness coach has an average salary of $38,462, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a fitness trainer include customer service, front desk and CPR. The most important skills for a fitness coach are CPR, kids, and fitness programs.
| Fitness Trainer | Fitness Coach | |
| Yearly salary | $28,702 | $38,462 |
| Hourly rate | $13.80 | $18.49 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 23,881 | 22,156 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A fitness coach specializes in mentoring clients in their journey for a healthier lifestyle, assisting them in reaching their individual goals for physical fitness. Their responsibilities include developing training programs based on the clients' needs, facilitating physical fitness training sessions in an individual or group setting, learning the clients' medical histories for risk prevention, and monitoring the progress of clients, adjusting programs as needed. Furthermore, as a fitness coach, it is essential to build rapport with clients, motivating them to reach their goals.
Fitness trainers and fitness coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fitness Trainer | Fitness Coach | |
| Average salary | $28,702 | $38,462 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $41,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Kohler Co. | AEA Investors |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a fitness trainer and a fitness coach in terms of educational background:
| Fitness Trainer | Fitness Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 trainers' and fitness coaches' demographics:
| Fitness Trainer | Fitness Coach | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% | Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7% |
| 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% |