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Health and wellness instructor vs fitness trainer

The differences between health and wellness instructors and fitness 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 health and wellness instructor and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a health and wellness instructor has an average salary of $39,996, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.

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

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness trainer overview

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Trainer
Yearly salary$39,996$28,702
Hourly rate$19.23$13.80
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs76,45123,881
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
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 trainer do?

The job of a fitness trainer is to instruct and motivate individuals and groups in physical activities, including stretching, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. The typical duties of a fitness trainer include demonstrating how to perform various exercises, guiding them during the exercise to improve fitness and minimize injuries, and monitoring their progress. As a fitness trainer, you are also responsible for explaining and enforcing safety rules on exercise equipment usage, recreational activities, and sports, and giving clients resources and information about weight control, lifestyle issues, and nutrition.

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness trainer salary

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

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Trainer
Average salary$39,996$28,702
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $58,000Between $19,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Kohler Co.
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between health and wellness instructor and fitness trainer education

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

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness trainer demographics

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

Health And Wellness InstructorFitness Trainer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2%
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 trainer 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 trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Monitor the swimming area and CPR certify.
  • Certify for CPR and a and always have first aid available.
  • Improve the cleanliness of the community recreations centers by implementing an hourly maintenance and cleaning schedule.
  • Maintain fitness center cleanliness while assisting members.
  • Assist in the cardiac rehabilitation clinic which include implementing progressive rehabilitation methods with education for long term health and wellness.
  • Show more

Health and wellness instructor vs fitness trainer 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 trainer skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Front Desk, 28%
  • CPR, 24%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Physical Fitness, 2%
  • Fitness Equipment, 1%

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