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Health and wellness instructor vs personal fitness trainer

The differences between health and wellness instructors and personal 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 personal fitness trainer. Additionally, a health and wellness instructor has an average salary of $39,996, which is higher than the $38,198 average annual salary of a personal fitness trainer.

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

Health and wellness instructor vs personal fitness trainer overview

Health And Wellness InstructorPersonal Fitness Trainer
Yearly salary$39,996$38,198
Hourly rate$19.23$18.36
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs76,45133,387
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 personal fitness trainer do?

Personal Fitness Trainers are responsible for developing fitness plans entailing exercise routines for groups and individuals. Their duties include determining clients' health and fitness levels, facilitating exercise regimen completions, monitoring physical progress, and implementing individualized exercise plans. They are responsible for undertaking group and individual training sessions, supervising proper fitness equipment, and educating on comprehensive training techniques. Personal Fitness Trainers also assist in providing consultation regarding nutrition, health, and weight control inquiries. They ensure safety regulations are adhered to and can perform first aid.

Health and wellness instructor vs personal fitness trainer salary

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

Health And Wellness InstructorPersonal Fitness Trainer
Average salary$39,996$38,198
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $58,000Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between health and wellness instructor and personal fitness trainer education

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

Health And Wellness InstructorPersonal Fitness Trainer
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 personal fitness trainer demographics

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

Health And Wellness InstructorPersonal Fitness Trainer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2%
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 personal 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.

Personal fitness trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Certify in basic CPR and emergency first aid.
  • Adhere to NASM and or NSCA conditioning standards.
  • Lead various group fitness exercises base on AFAA and NETA guidelines.
  • Monitor equipment maintenance and provide a range of aerobics, aqua, cycling, and stretch classes.
  • Organize Zumba fund raisers for members of the community with cancer, leukemia, autism and mental health disease.
  • Show more

Health and wellness instructor vs personal 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 personal fitness trainer skills
  • CPR, 26%
  • Program Design, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Group Training, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Injury Prevention, 5%

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