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The differences between personal 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 personal trainer and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a personal trainer has an average salary of $37,214, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a personal trainer include CPR, customer service and resuscitation. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $37,214 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $17.89 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 34,023 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A personal trainer is responsible for monitoring the client's fitness goals by assisting the client with specific and customized routines and exercises to promote healthy well-being. Duties of a personal trainer also include evaluating the client's fitness progress, creating safe programs to improve the client's stamina, educating the client with workout benefits, suggesting on a client's best nutrition plans, and motivating clients with their capabilities. A personal trainer should have excellent knowledge of the fitness industry to support the client's needs.
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.
Personal trainers and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $37,214 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $53,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | AEA Investors | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a personal trainer and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between personal trainers' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Personal Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.3% Female, 36.7% | 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% |