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Physical education instructor vs fitness specialist

The differences between physical education instructors and fitness specialists 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 fitness specialist. Additionally, a physical education instructor has an average salary of $41,717, which is higher than the $32,472 average annual salary of a fitness specialist.

The top three skills for a physical education instructor include classroom management, CPR and health education. The most important skills for a fitness specialist are CPR, fitness assessments, and ACSM.

Physical education instructor vs fitness specialist overview

Physical Education InstructorFitness Specialist
Yearly salary$41,717$32,472
Hourly rate$20.06$15.61
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs86,75528,175
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

Physical education instructor vs fitness specialist salary

Physical education instructors and fitness specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Physical Education InstructorFitness Specialist
Average salary$41,717$32,472
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $57,000Between $24,000 And $42,000
Highest paying CityBurlingame, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCornell UniversityUniversity Settlement
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between physical education instructor and fitness specialist education

There are a few differences between a physical education instructor and a fitness specialist in terms of educational background:

Physical Education InstructorFitness Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorHealth EducationKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Physical education instructor vs fitness specialist demographics

Here are the differences between physical education instructors' and fitness specialists' demographics:

Physical Education InstructorFitness Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 65.5% Female, 34.5%Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%
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 fitness specialist 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.
  • Show more

Fitness specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
  • Lead group strength training exercises, conduct vitals, and monitor EKG telemetry before during and after exercise.
  • Conduct CPR and a workshops for facility.
  • Water safety, CPR, and a certified.
  • Maintain cleanliness of exercise equipment.
  • Maintain cleanliness and safety protocol of fitness equipment.
  • Show more

Physical education instructor vs fitness specialist skills

Common physical education instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 15%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Health Education, 9%
  • Adaptive, 8%
  • Volleyball, 6%
  • Syllabus, 5%
Common fitness specialist skills
  • CPR, 16%
  • Fitness Assessments, 8%
  • ACSM, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 6%
  • Blood Pressure, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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