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Physical education instructor vs certified personal trainer

The differences between physical education instructors and certified personal 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 physical education instructor and a certified personal trainer. Additionally, a physical education instructor has an average salary of $41,717, which is higher than the $32,039 average annual salary of a certified personal trainer.

The top three skills for a physical education instructor include classroom management, CPR and health education. The most important skills for a certified personal trainer are CPR, customer service, and injury prevention.

Physical education instructor vs certified personal trainer overview

Physical Education InstructorCertified Personal Trainer
Yearly salary$41,717$32,039
Hourly rate$20.06$15.40
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs86,75565,615
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

Physical education instructor vs certified personal trainer salary

Physical education instructors and certified personal trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Physical Education InstructorCertified Personal Trainer
Average salary$41,717$32,039
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $57,000Between $21,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityBurlingame, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCornell UniversityCity and County of Denver Government
Best paying industryEducationRetail

Differences between physical education instructor and certified personal trainer education

There are a few differences between a physical education instructor and a certified personal trainer in terms of educational background:

Physical Education InstructorCertified Personal Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorHealth EducationKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Physical education instructor vs certified personal trainer demographics

Here are the differences between physical education instructors' and certified personal trainers' demographics:

Physical Education InstructorCertified Personal Trainer
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 65.5% Female, 34.5%Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5%
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 physical education instructor and certified personal trainer duties and responsibilities

Physical education instructor example responsibilities.

  • Develop organize syllabus to direct students in achieving subject knowledge require for course completion.
  • Help t implement and test other students for IEP goals.
  • Head coach of several junior varsity and varsity sports, including football, softball and basketball.
  • Help with compliance to make sure softball and cross country student-athletes will be eligible once enroll.
  • Coach the after school sports program in cross-country, track and field, basketball, soccer and baseball.
  • Create lesson plans using activities to help students with specific disabilities and used that to create and IEP.
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Certified personal trainer example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Train in CPR in case of emergencies.
  • Develop circuit training and small group Pilates classes.
  • Instruct Pilates classes and create a custom Pilates class for senior clients.
  • Coach and tutor colleagues on exercise science concepts as outlined in NASM certification material.
  • Assist in the cardiac rehabilitation clinic which include implementing progressive rehabilitation methods with education for long term health and wellness.
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Physical education instructor vs certified personal trainer skills

Common physical education instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 15%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Health Education, 9%
  • Adaptive, 8%
  • Volleyball, 6%
  • Syllabus, 5%
Common certified personal trainer skills
  • CPR, 21%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Injury Prevention, 9%
  • Group Training, 6%
  • NASM, 6%
  • Weight Loss, 5%

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