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Job outlook for life skills trainers in the United States
Life skills trainer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected life skills trainer job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 57,800 new jobs for life skills trainers are projected over the next decade.
Life skills trainer salaries have increased 6% for life skills trainers in the last 5 years.
There are over 17,873 life skills trainers currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,666 active life skills trainer job openings in the US.
The average life skills trainer salary is $30,822.
Are life skills trainer jobs in demand?
Life skills trainer job and salary trends over time
Life skills trainer jobs over time
Life skills trainer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,873 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 20,008 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 26,254 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 24,880 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 22,590 | 0.01% |
Average life skills trainer salary over time
Life skills trainer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,822 | $14.82 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $30,731 | $14.77 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $30,297 | $14.57 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $29,833 | $14.34 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $29,034 | $13.96 | +5.5% |
Life skills trainer jobs by state
Most common states for life skills trainers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,330 | 19% |
| 2 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 377 | 11% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 103 | 10% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 75 | 10% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 270 | 9% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 86 | 9% |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 523 | 8% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 449 | 8% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 241 | 8% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 879 | 7% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 453 | 7% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 126 | 7% |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 47 | 7% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 568 | 6% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 347 | 6% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 273 | 6% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 184 | 6% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 78 | 6% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 48 | 6% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 36 | 6% |
Most common cities for life skills trainers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Hill | 2 | 5% | $41,774 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $33,181 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | 4 | 2% | $42,058 |
| 4 | Mountain View | 2 | 2% | $42,003 |
| 5 | West Covina | 2 | 2% | $39,497 |
| 6 | Ames | 1 | 2% | $19,568 |
| 7 | Fresno | 3 | 1% | $40,728 |
| 8 | Glendale | 3 | 1% | $39,654 |
| 9 | Pasadena | 2 | 1% | $39,607 |
| 10 | Santa Ana | 2 | 1% | $39,456 |
| 11 | Springfield | 2 | 1% | $34,983 |
| 12 | Torrance | 2 | 1% | $39,656 |
| 13 | Amarillo | 1 | 1% | $27,892 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $39,706 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $22,621 |
| 16 | San Jose | 2 | 0% | $41,863 |
| 17 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $22,436 |
Life Skills Trainer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of life skills trainer experts
California State University - San Marcos
Eastern Kentucky University
Sodexo North America
Dr. Todd Astorino Ph.D FACSM
ProfessorCalifornia State University - San Marcos
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What Life Skills Trainer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Todd Astorino Ph.D FACSM: Be unique-don't be like everyone else i.e. have a niche and/or be really really good at what you do--
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN
AT Program Director | ProfessorEastern Kentucky University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What will help Life Skills Trainers increase their earning potential?
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN: This often depends on how well I know the individual, their strengths and weaknesses, etc. In general I would start with... "See your career and occupation as a journey. First, get a good sense of the destination prior to leaving. For your career this means you need to understand why you are going on the trip as well as the destination. A destination without purpose often leads to disappointment or dissatisfaction during the journey. If you can connect each step to your purpose, or your "Why", then you can find joy and fulfillment when things don't work out in your favor all the time. That leads to the idea of the destination. Each graduate needs to understand that there are often many stops along the way in getting to where you want to go. I believe one fallacy we often believe is that graduation leads to the perfect job setting. Individuals working in medicine or health and fitness need to continue gaining skills and knowledge after graduation to become even better and more effective in their careers. This requires you to sometimes accept a job that isn't your final destination or maybe one without the perfect benefits package. Don't delay your career waiting for the perfect setting and opportunity because that final destination may be waiting on you to grow and develop along the way before getting there.
What general advice would you give to a Life Skills Trainer?
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN: There are so many different fields within the area of kinesiology that this is often a difficult question to answer. Coming right out of school, I believe content knowledge is important. I think you can maximize your marketability (employers and clients) through strategically pursuing additional certifications/credentials that compliment your education, strengths and desired job setting. If you can balance that with soft-skills, like communication, team building, problem solving and critical thinking, I believe you enhance your marketability.
I think it is also fair to acknowledge that if you plan to pursue an industry that requires you to build a client base, thinking you will graduate and "maximize" your salary may be a misnomer. The goal will be to continue to develop those skills ("hard" and "soft") to maximize your earning overtime. Clients/patients want someone working with them who knows their field and is effective. Employers see that over time or word of mouth and marketing spread the news. That is what leads to your value increasing.
What type of skills will young Life Skills Trainers need?
Michelle Robinson: In order to succeed in the workforce in the coming years, young graduates will need a combination of skills. They will need to be service-oriented and possess a willingness to do what it takes in order to meet customer expectations attitude. Cultural intelligence/awareness to be able to relate to customers from different cultures will be critical, as will the ability to communicate clearly.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Life Skills Trainers to find work opportunities?
Michelle Robinson: Graduates should consider looking at nontraditional roles outside of just restaurants and hotels. For example, Sodexo's Senior Living segment manages very upscale retirement communities that rival many five star resorts with their dining selections and amenities.
How do you envision technology impacting Life Skills Trainers in the next 5 years?
Michelle Robinson: Technology will continue to have a major impact in the hospitality field within the next five years. Current trends that were unimaginable a few years ago, such as table kiosks, online ordering, and even using chatbots, will be just the tip of the iceberg. In order to keep up with consumer demands, the industry must continue to adapt and flex to new and changing technologies.