How to hire a group exercise instructor

How to hire a group exercise instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step group exercise instructor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a group exercise instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new group exercise instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a group exercise instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a group exercise instructor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a group exercise instructor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a group exercise instructor that fits the bill.

   This list presents group exercise instructor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Group Exercise Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Group Exercise Instructor	Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises (exercises for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.	$10-25
   Fitness Coach	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... Show more	$11-28
   Life Skills Trainer	Life skills trainers are personal health professionals who provide training assistance and supervision to patients, such as personal care, financial management, and social integration. These trainers are required to assist their clients with disabilities with daily living activities while documenting their behaviors and personal hygiene... Show more	$10-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Yoga
   • Kids
   • Customer Service
   • AFAA
   • Zumba
   • Cardio
   • Cleanliness
   • Class Attendance
   • Healthy Lifestyle
   • Pilates
   • Fitness Programs
   • Training Programs
   • Member Retention

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage general fitness center cleanliness and coordinate group fitness instructor schedules
   • Create classes base on high intensity cardio and strength training using a wide array of fitness equipment.
   • Instruct a group of up to 50 people in exercises ranging from strength training to Zumba.
   • Maintain up keep and cleanliness of the facility, restocking cleaning supplies, cleaning fitness equipment, and re-racking weights.
   • Instruct classes and individuals in mat Pilates as well as on equipment including reformer, barrel, chair, and cadillac.
   • Group equipment classes including springboard.

   More group exercise instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the group exercise instructor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A group exercise instructor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a group exercise instructor in Idaho may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level group exercise instructor. Additionally, a group exercise instructor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average group exercise instructor salary

   $16.51hourly

   $34,348 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level group exercise instructor salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average group exercise instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$52,234	$25
   2	Texas	$40,905	$20
   3	Massachusetts	$35,110	$17
   4	Florida	$33,864	$16
   5	Illinois	$33,661	$16
   6	Colorado	$33,627	$16
   7	Virginia	$33,186	$16
   8	Oregon	$33,010	$16
   9	North Carolina	$32,997	$16
   10	Georgia	$31,390	$15
   11	South Carolina	$30,016	$14
   12	New Jersey	$29,264	$14
   13	Pennsylvania	$28,614	$14
   14	Kansas	$27,544	$13
   15	New York	$26,629	$13
   16	Missouri	$24,916	$12
   17	Idaho	$23,755	$11
   18	Ohio	$18,939	$9

   Average group exercise instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Massachusetts General Hospital	$58,227	$27.99
   2	Hancock Wellness	$57,662	$27.72	7
   3	ProMedica Toledo Hospital	$52,934	$25.45	1
   4	Baptist Health Home Care	$48,499	$23.32	5
   5	Salem State University	$48,465	$23.30
   6	City of Lakewood	$47,957	$23.06
   7	La Paloma Urgent Care & Physician Offices	$46,139	$22.18
   8	YMCA Camp Ockanickon	$45,360	$21.81
   9	Parker Hannifin	$44,781	$21.53
   10	NCH Healthcare System	$44,762	$21.52	4
   11	University of California	$44,574	$21.43	16
   12	Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers	$43,060	$20.70
   13	Southwest General	$42,916	$20.63	2
   14	Healthtrax	$42,779	$20.57	67
   15	Brick Bodies Fitness Services	$42,446	$20.41	4
   16	All Sport Health & Fitness	$41,807	$20.10	7
   17	VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa	$41,796	$20.09
   18	Medical University of South Carolina	$41,512	$19.96	3
   19	City of Renton	$41,352	$19.88	1
   20	Chuze Fitness	$41,096	$19.76

4. Writing a group exercise instructor job description

   A job description for a group exercise instructor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a group exercise instructor job description:

   Group exercise instructor job description example

   Do you have what it takes to get people moving? We are looking for athletic, strong, energetic, and motivating instructors to join our group exercise team. Whether you are certified in Cycle, Yoga, Pilates, or Zumba, we want to see you move, as we are always on the lookout for rock-stars. MOSSA and Les Mills formats accepted, but if you have the big personality and a passion for fitness, we can help get you certified.
   Duties and Responsibilities:
   
   Execute and comply with procedures as outlined in the group fitness manual Teach safe and effective classes, according to guidelines and description. Support, assist, motivate and retain all members Maintain microphones, stereo equipment, rooms and equipment storage areas Promote all classes and events internally and externally Attends all staff and club meetings and events Coordinate replacement sub if unable to teach assigned class, per supervisors’ approval Establish and maintain professional relationships with members and staff Ensures that all required documentation (daily reports, checklists, etc.) are completed in a timely manner. Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations
   
   Expectations:
   
   Present a professional demeanor at all times when representing the Genesis Health Clubs Participate in regular exercise programs Provide input in developing strategies to support club goals and objectives Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members
   
   Job Requirements:
   
   Available to work weekends and evenings and holidays Must hold current CPR certification or obtain within 60 days of start date Certification by ACE, AFFA MOSSA, LES MILLS or other nationally recognized certification Ability to work well with others Customer service abilities

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right group exercise instructor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your group exercise instructor job on Zippia to find and recruit group exercise instructor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit group exercise instructors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new group exercise instructor

   Once you've selected the best group exercise instructor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a group exercise instructor?