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Job outlook for personal trainer and group fitness instructors in the United States
Are personal trainer and group fitness instructor jobs in demand?
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor job and salary trends over time
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor jobs over time
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 224 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 251 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 330 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 313 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 284 | 0.00% |
Average personal trainer and group fitness instructor salary over time
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,087 | $14.47 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | $29,998 | $14.42 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $29,575 | $14.22 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $29,122 | $14.00 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $28,342 | $13.63 | +5.5% |
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor jobs by state
Most common states for personal trainer and group fitness instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 167 | 17% |
| 2 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 909 | 16% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 579 | 16% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 109 | 15% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,203 | 14% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 454 | 14% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 100 | 14% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 79 | 14% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 529 | 13% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 143 | 13% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 95 | 13% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,263 | 12% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 812 | 12% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 703 | 12% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 594 | 12% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 127 | 12% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,347 | 11% |
| 18 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,128 | 11% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 977 | 11% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 622 | 11% |
Most common cities for personal trainer and group fitness instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield | 1 | 0% | $39,677 |
Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of personal trainer and group fitness instructor experts
Eastern Kentucky University
Endicott College
University of Arkansas
Kent State University
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN
AT Program Director | ProfessorEastern Kentucky University
Sports, Kinesiology, And Physical Education/Fitness
What general advice would you give to a Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor?
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 will help Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructors 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 Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Sabin PhD, LAT, ATC, SMTC, CIDN: Adaptability is the first skill that jumps to mind. Graduates need to know the foundational knowledge but I believe how we apply the knowledge and skills will continue to change. Kinesiology is a broad field that is often a starting point for individuals interested in athletic training, exercise physiology, fitness and wellness, physical therapy, and many other possible fields. Each of these fields requires the professional to know their information but more importantly, how to relay that to the client/patient in a way that impacts and brings change. With that being said, graduates need to work on the soft-skills as much they do in understanding the content of their field.
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.
Associate Dean, School of Sport Science, Clinical Coordinator of Athletic TrainingEndicott College
School of Sport Science
What skills stand out on Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor resumes?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: The obvious skills are one's knowledge of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and exercise. However, I believe that the most important skill is a person's ability to synthesize their scientific knowledge and effectively apply it in practice.
What soft skills should all Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructors possess?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Communication is the most important soft skill any new and seasoned professional can have. Effective communication demonstrates your command of the information and situation at hand and assists in earning the trust and respect of your clients and peers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructors?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: Exercise scientists are well-versed in various areas, including exercise assessment, exercise programming, biomechanics, exercise instruction, and patient/client education.
What skills will help Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructors earn the most?
Kevin Rooney Ph.D.: There are numerous settings Exercise Scientists can work in. I believe that the most important skills to become successful include effective communication, active listening, compassion, being a team player, and critical thinking. Regardless of your work setting, if you possess these characteristics and skills, your professional growth ceiling is endless.
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Exercise ScienceUniversity of Arkansas
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: The fitness industry was devasted by COVID-19. Many fitness facilities were forced to shut their doors due to state and local regulations causing many to close permanently. The facilities that were able to hang on found creative ways to interact with their clients. The primary form was through virtual formats such as Zoom. This has never been attempted in the past, but COVID has forced the fitness industry to make significant changes in the way it interacts with clients. Never before have we had the opportunity to go into our clients' homes and expand our reach.
What technical skills for a Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructor stand out to employers?
Dr. Michelle Gray Ph.D.: Employers are looking for individuals that can do it all. In my own gym, the owner/manager is seeking applicants that have knowledge in group fitness, personal training, and general facility management. Most employers are ok training on the specific aspects of their gym, but need self-driven and internally motivated employees that will help move the gym to the next level.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Personal Trainer And Group Fitness Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: There are certainly some states with teacher shortages, but that is often because those states' political or economic climates make them less desirable as a place for teachers to work. If teachers' teaching conditions and salaries were improved, there would be more people interested in entering the profession. That said, I typically tell students that the broader their search for a job can be, the more likely they are to find a good fit.