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What is a group fitness instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
John John Petrizzo PT, DPT, CSCS
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A group fitness instructor must develop fitness programs for a bunch of people with equal fitness objectives. You must always give special guidance to keep the group engaged and assist every individual in accomplishing their healthy lifestyle goals. As a group fitness instructor, you must observe every trainee's improvement and make sure that the group obeys the training regulations during fitness periods. Furthermore, you have to regulate exercise timetables and diet methods when necessary. You must also be well knowledgeable in the fitness business together with the recent routines. This is to enable you to give choices and a broad range of fitness schemes. Additionally, you have to arrange, prepare, and watch class devices and make sure it's given back in a good state. It is your responsibility to recommend training programs and class rules and procedures to participate as appropriate.

To fit into this role, you must have a GED or a high school diploma, and a minimal amount of one year of experience connected to the duties stated. In addition, you must have great organizational, communication, and client service skills. You will earn an average salary of $39,527 a year or $19 an hour on the job.

What general advice would you give to a group fitness instructor?

John John Petrizzo PT, DPT, CSCS

Associate Professor, Website

I think that having good people skills will become increasingly important in our field in the next few years. You can be knowledgeable, but if you can't communicate what you know well to others, it is going to hurt your chances of being successful.
ScoreGroup Fitness InstructorUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,867

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.4

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 5.11%

Black or African American 7.05%

Hispanic or Latino 10.64%

Unknown 5.40%

White 71.31%

Gender

female 70.47%

male 29.53%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress level
4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Group fitness instructor career paths

Key steps to become a group fitness instructor

  1. Explore group fitness instructor education requirements

    Most common group fitness instructor degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.2 %

    Associate

    12.3 %

    Master's

    9.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific group fitness instructor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CPR25.47%
    Yoga15.22%
    Customer Service9.67%
    Group Fitness Classes6.92%
    AFAA6.22%
  3. Complete relevant group fitness instructor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New group fitness instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a group fitness instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real group fitness instructor resumes.
  4. Gain additional group fitness instructor certifications

    Group fitness instructor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific group fitness instructor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for group fitness instructors include Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research group fitness instructor duties and responsibilities

    • Lead group exercise classes in cycling, bootcamp and outdoor fitness.
    • Attain certifications in aerobics, fitness and aquatic exercise, CPR and a.
    • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
    • Design and lead fitness classes involving Pilates, yoga, circuits, and resistance training appropriate for all fitness levels.
  6. Prepare your group fitness instructor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your group fitness instructor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a group fitness instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable group fitness instructor resume templates

    Build a professional group fitness instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your group fitness instructor resume.
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    Group Fitness Instructor Resume
    Group Fitness Instructor Resume
  7. Apply for group fitness instructor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a group fitness instructor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first group fitness instructor job

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Average group fitness instructor salary

The average group fitness instructor salary in the United States is $35,867 per year or $17 per hour. Group fitness instructor salaries range between $23,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average group fitness instructor salary
$35,867 Yearly
$17.24 hourly

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How do group fitness instructors rate their job?

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Group fitness instructor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Training and operating fitness department

Cons

Running out of time to help obtain a clean and safe environment in the gym


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

No punching a time clock. Ability to set own hours - although you’ll make more if you are flexible with client availabilities. Rewarding helping others get healthier and seeing the positive outcomes in their fitness/health.

Cons

Early mornings and late evenings - midday naps are often needed. Typically need to work Saturdays. People think that a personal trainer’s time is worthless because they rarely call to cancel… no-shows are always happening and it really sucks for the trainer, especially since it happens so often.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Watching our clients enjoy there work out & progress!

Cons

I love everything about Pilates.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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