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The differences between group fitness instructors 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 group fitness instructor and a fitness coach. Additionally, a fitness coach has an average salary of $38,462, which is higher than the $35,867 average annual salary of a group fitness instructor.
The top three skills for a group fitness instructor include CPR, yoga and customer service. The most important skills for a fitness coach are CPR, kids, and fitness programs.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Yearly salary | $35,867 | $38,462 |
| Hourly rate | $17.24 | $18.49 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 38,457 | 22,156 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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 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.
Group fitness instructors and fitness coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Average salary | $35,867 | $38,462 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $54,000 | Between $24,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater State University | AEA Investors |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a group fitness instructor and a fitness coach in terms of educational background:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 group fitness instructors' and fitness coaches' demographics:
| Group Fitness Instructor | Fitness Coach | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | 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% |