Physical trainer vs group fitness instructor

The differences between physical trainers and group 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 group fitness instructor. Additionally, a group fitness instructor has an average salary of $35,867, 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 group fitness instructor are CPR, yoga, and customer service.

Physical trainer vs group fitness instructor overview

	Physical Trainer	Group Fitness Instructor
Yearly salary	$25,278	$35,867
Hourly rate	$12.15	$17.24
Growth rate	19%	19%
Number of jobs	72,865	38,457
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	12	12

Physical trainer vs group fitness instructor salary

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

	Physical Trainer	Group Fitness Instructor
Average salary	$25,278	$35,867
Salary range	Between $17,000 And $35,000	Between $23,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Bridgewater State University
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between physical trainer and group fitness instructor education

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

	Physical Trainer	Group Fitness Instructor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Physical trainer vs group fitness instructor demographics

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

	Physical Trainer	Group Fitness Instructor
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 67.2% Female, 32.8%	Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5%
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 group 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.

Group fitness instructor example responsibilities.

Lead group exercise classes in cycling, bootcamp and outdoor fitness.
Attain certifications in aerobics, fitness and aquatic exercise, CPR and a.
Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
Design and lead fitness classes involving Pilates, yoga, circuits, and resistance training appropriate for all fitness levels.
Follow guidelines for teaching group fitness through AFAA certification.
Design and teach strength, bootcamp, stretching, and spin classes

Physical trainer vs group 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 group fitness instructor skills

CPR, 25%
Yoga, 15%
Customer Service, 10%
Group Fitness Classes, 7%
AFAA, 6%
Cleanliness, 6%

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Physical Trainer vs Group Fitness Instructor

Updated January 8, 2025

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