How to hire a group fitness instructor

How to hire a group fitness instructor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step group fitness 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 fitness instructor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new group fitness instructor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a group fitness instructor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a group fitness 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

   A group fitness instructor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, group fitness instructors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of group fitness instructor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Group Fitness Instructor	Description	Hourly rate
   Group Fitness 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.	$11-25
   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
   Skills Trainer	Skills Trainers are responsible for creating and teaching courses that are specialized for employees of an organization. Their duties include conducting initial analysis through questionnaires, surveys, and focus groups, create program budgeting, design training courses, organize the class schedule, produce study materials, and implement trial run... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • Yoga
   • Customer Service
   • Group Fitness Classes
   • AFAA
   • Cleanliness
   • Class Attendance
   • Cardio
   • Pilates
   • Work Ethic
   • Strength Training
   • Kids
   • Aqua
   • Zumba

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Follow guidelines for teaching group fitness through AFAA certification.
   • Design and teach strength, bootcamp, stretching, and spin classes

   More group fitness instructor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your group fitness instructor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A group fitness instructor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a group fitness instructor in Idaho may be lower than in California, and an entry-level group fitness instructor usually earns less than a senior-level group fitness instructor. Additionally, a group fitness instructor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average group fitness instructor salary

   $35,867yearly

   $17.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level group fitness instructor salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average group fitness instructor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$48,840	$23
   2	Nevada	$43,196	$21
   3	Texas	$40,846	$20
   4	Arizona	$39,523	$19
   5	Maryland	$38,370	$18
   6	Washington	$37,922	$18
   7	Colorado	$37,909	$18
   8	New Mexico	$37,130	$18
   9	Florida	$36,863	$18
   10	District of Columbia	$36,725	$18
   11	Illinois	$35,791	$17
   12	Oklahoma	$35,650	$17
   13	New Jersey	$34,066	$16
   14	Massachusetts	$33,970	$16
   15	New York	$32,878	$16
   16	Rhode Island	$31,610	$15
   17	Kansas	$31,285	$15
   18	Minnesota	$31,110	$15
   19	Virginia	$29,282	$14
   20	Indiana	$29,181	$14

   Average group fitness instructor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bridgewater State University	$56,938	$27.37	1
   2	Georgetown University	$52,965	$25.46	3
   3	City and County of Denver Government	$50,240	$24.15
   4	Columbia University in the City of New York	$50,234	$24.15	20
   5	Syracuse University	$49,307	$23.71	2
   6	PSEA	$47,256	$22.72	10
   7	City of Lakewood	$46,844	$22.52
   8	City of Dublin, Ohio - Government	$46,772	$22.49
   9	Methodist Health System	$45,718	$21.98	2
   10	Retail	$45,452	$21.85
   11	Southern New Hampshire University	$44,682	$21.48
   12	The College of St. Scholastica	$43,588	$20.96	1
   13	The University of Texas at San Antonio	$42,505	$20.44	3
   14	The University of New Mexico	$42,343	$20.36	7
   15	BayCare Health System	$41,235	$19.82	7
   16	F45 Training	$40,855	$19.64	201
   17	Educational Alliance	$40,732	$19.58	7
   18	Arden Hills: A Wellness Resort	$40,724	$19.58
   19	GYMGUYZ	$40,619	$19.53	145
   20	Tapout Fitness	$40,619	$19.53

4. Writing a group fitness instructor job description

   A job description for a group fitness 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 fitness instructor job description:

   Group fitness instructor job description example

   Arch Amenities Group, the world's leading spa, fitness and leisure firm, is seeking a Pilates Reformer Group Fitness Instructor. Pilates Reformer Instructors work individually with clients, helping them devise custom exercise plans to help them achieve their physical fitness goals. Personal Trainers make sure that their clients are doing exercises correctly.
   Responsibilities • Maintains a client base by selling minimum level of new Pilates Reformer packages as determined by the facility manager.
   • Promotes all facility programs/activities by discussing other department areas that may assist members with a total facility experience. Must keep current with facility calendar - programs, events and activities.
   • Maintains professional and technical knowledge about exercise, health, and fitness by remaining current with trends in the industry.
   • Participates in facility events, activities, and seminars when directed by management. • Provides excellent customer service and monitors guest feedback through the use of comment cards and other customer care techniques.
   • Helps ensure facility is only accessed by actual members and/or guests, and that it is safe and secure at all times.
   • Other duties as assigned Qualifications • College degree in physical education, health, exercise, or related field preferred
   • Pilates Trainers to currently hold one of the nationally recognized certifications or Pilates Method Alliance approved certifications
   • Current first aid, CPR, and other safety certifications when required by the client
   • Ability to demonstrate Reformer equipment use for exercise training
   • Must be able to lift 45-pound weight plates
   • Excellent customer service skills and strong work ethic
   • Efficient, well organized, and able to handle a variety of duties simultaneously
   • Professional manner, discretion, and appearance
   • Excellent verbal and written skills
   • Energetic, enthusiastic and motivational
   • Strong team player
   • Ability to stand for long periods
   • Awareness of proper body mechanics to prevent injury
   • This position required the ability to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, walk, and talk
   • The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms
   • Normal work hours: Varied to include nights, weekends, and holidays Facility/Job Highlights Arch Amenities Group is an equal employment opportunity employer that is committed to having a diverse work force. We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Click here to get started.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find group fitness instructors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with group fitness instructor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 fitness instructor

   Once you've selected the best group fitness 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new group fitness instructor first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 fitness instructor?