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The differences between group fitness instructors and certified personal 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 group fitness instructor and a certified personal trainer. Additionally, a group fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,867, which is higher than the $32,039 average annual salary of a certified personal trainer.
The top three skills for a group fitness instructor include CPR, yoga and customer service. The most important skills for a certified personal trainer are CPR, customer service, and injury prevention.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,867 | $32,039 |
| Hourly rate | $17.24 | $15.40 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 38,457 | 65,615 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A group fitness instructor is responsible for creating fitness programs for a group with the same fitness goals, tailoring special instructions to engage the group and helping each individual achieve their healthy lifestyle objectives. Group fitness instructors monitor each trainee's progress, adjusting exercise routines and diet plans as needed, and ensuring that the group follows the training disciplines during fitness sessions. They must have excellent knowledge of the fitness industry, including the latest routines to provide options and a wide range of fitness programs.
A Certified Personal Trainer is a person who will guide, help, and motivate you to move forward and become successful. Anyone with a mastery of a specific subject can become a personal trainer; however, certification is given only by accredited organizations that can offer licensure or certification programs. Many hope to find their own certified personal trainer in this hectic and convoluted society to accompany them through thick and thin in life.
Group fitness instructors and certified personal trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Average salary | $35,867 | $32,039 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $54,000 | Between $21,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater State University | City and County of Denver Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a group fitness instructor and a certified personal trainer in terms of educational background:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 group fitness instructors' and certified personal trainers' demographics:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Certified Personal Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% |
| 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% |