Physical trainer vs fitness instructor

The differences between physical trainers and fitness instructors 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 trainer and a fitness instructor. Additionally, a fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,495, which is higher than the $25,278 average annual salary of a physical trainer.

The top three skills for a physical trainer include physical therapy, strength training and soccer. The most important skills for a fitness instructor are CPR, customer service, and work ethic.

Physical trainer vs fitness instructor overview

	Physical Trainer	Fitness Instructor
Yearly salary	$25,278	$35,495
Hourly rate	$12.15	$17.06
Growth rate	19%	19%
Number of jobs	72,865	31,212
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	12	12

Physical trainer vs fitness instructor salary

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

	Physical Trainer	Fitness Instructor
Average salary	$25,278	$35,495
Salary range	Between $17,000 And $35,000	Between $23,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Berkeley, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between physical trainer and fitness instructor education

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

	Physical Trainer	Fitness Instructor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Physical trainer vs fitness instructor demographics

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

	Physical Trainer	Fitness Instructor
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8%	Male, 32.2% Female, 67.8%
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%

Differences between physical trainer and fitness instructor duties and responsibilities

Physical trainer example responsibilities.

Manage various football, basketball, and speed camps while conveying the importance of self-motivation.
Receive NASM certification for personal training service.
Create feedback and progress reports regarding development for on boarding new associates and provide official information on a SharePoint database.
Create original TRX classes and encourage inactive members to participate consistently.

Fitness instructor example responsibilities.

Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
Train in community water safety as well as deep water aerobics, first aid, life-guard assistance, and CPR.
Teach adult swimming lessons; staff lifeguard; implement department staff training
Step aerobic instructor, lifeguard and swim instructor, swim team coach.
Engage kids with a learning activity, and communicate achievements and behaviors to parents
Host and participate in company workshops, health fairs, and kids' day events.

Physical trainer vs fitness instructor skills

Common physical trainer skills

Physical Therapy, 45%
Strength Training, 12%
Soccer, 12%
Weight Loss, 8%
Training Sessions, 8%
Front Desk, 8%

Common fitness instructor skills

CPR, 25%
Customer Service, 17%
Work Ethic, 6%
Front Desk, 6%
Yoga, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%