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The differences between life skills trainers 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 life skills trainer and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a life skills trainer has an average salary of $30,822, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a life skills trainer include medication administration, therapeutic recreation and medical appointments. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Life Skills Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $30,822 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $14.82 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 39,666 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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. They can organize therapeutic activities for individuals or groups to maximize their quality of life. Life skills trainers must also assist in meal preparation as well as perform tasks that include glucose monitoring, insulin therapy, and diabetes management.
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.
Life skills trainers and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Life Skills Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $30,822 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $41,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | - | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a life skills trainer and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Life Skills Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between life skills trainers' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Life Skills Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% |
| 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% |