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Health and wellness instructor vs fitness instructor

The differences between health and wellness instructors and fitness instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a health and wellness instructor and a fitness instructor. Additionally, a health and wellness instructor has an average salary of $39,996, which is higher than the $35,495 average annual salary of a fitness instructor.

The top three skills for a health and wellness instructor include home health, CPR and yoga. The most important skills for a fitness instructor are CPR, customer service, and work ethic.

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness instructor overview

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Instructor
Yearly salary$39,996$35,495
Hourly rate$19.23$17.06
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs76,45131,212
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a health and wellness instructor do?

A health and wellness instructor or coach is someone who guides people and helps them set goals for their lives. These goals may be to manage stress better, improve energy, lose weight or even attain a certain body goal. You may be required to give nutrition and exercise counseling to clients as well as give advice on lifestyle and behavioral changes to help improve the lives of people.

What does a fitness instructor do?

A fitness instructor advocates good physical health by crafting different fitness programs and providing fitness training sessions to a group of clients or individuals. They focus on different kinds of work-out and exercise routines. A fitness instructor mostly works at a gym; however, there are instances when one can work independently or by providing house calls. Furthermore, a fitness instructor needs to build rapport with clients, making them feel at ease during sessions, which will also be beneficial in gaining a strong client base.

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness instructor salary

Health and wellness instructors and fitness instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Instructor
Average salary$39,996$35,495
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $58,000Between $23,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Berkeley, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between health and wellness instructor and fitness instructor education

There are a few differences between a health and wellness instructor and a fitness instructor in terms of educational background:

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness instructor demographics

Here are the differences between health and wellness instructors' and fitness instructors' demographics:

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Instructor
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between health and wellness instructor and fitness instructor duties and responsibilities

Health and wellness instructor example responsibilities.

  • Lead group exercise classes and teach CPR classes.
  • Conduct testing for BMI, flexibility, height, weight, and blood pressure.
  • Teach yoga, mindfulness meditation and body awareness tailor to clients' mental and emotional needs.
  • Design programs for clients, including nutrition, yoga, Pilates, cardiovascular and weight training.
  • Educate patients about healthy lifestyle behaviors -Developed anaerobic and aerobic exercise routines derive from a doctor's physical examination of patients
  • Instruct group exercise classes including tabata, tone, and spinning.

Fitness instructor example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Train in community water safety as well as deep water aerobics, first aid, life-guard assistance, and CPR.
  • Teach adult swimming lessons; staff lifeguard; implement department staff training
  • Step aerobic instructor, lifeguard and swim instructor, swim team coach.
  • Engage kids with a learning activity, and communicate achievements and behaviors to parents
  • Host and participate in company workshops, health fairs, and kids' day events.
  • Show more

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness instructor skills

Common health and wellness instructor skills
  • Home Health, 29%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Yoga, 12%
  • Wellness Programs, 5%
  • Membership Sales, 4%
  • Physical Education, 4%
Common fitness instructor skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Customer Service, 17%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Front Desk, 6%
  • Yoga, 6%
  • Cleanliness, 6%

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