Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between sports instructors 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 sports instructor and a fitness trainer. Additionally, a sports instructor has an average salary of $35,285, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a sports instructor include kids, CPR and customer service. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Sports Instructor | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $35,285 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $16.96 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 26,478 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Sports Instructors are in charge of exhibiting and describing the rules and skills of specific sports to individuals or groups. Typically, they work at recreational facilities and community centers. They assist beginners to comprehend the basic rules, grips, movements, stances, and techniques of a game. Also, they usually help accomplished athletes to improve their skills. They also give appropriate instructions and trainings on a sport as well as develop and aim strategies to enhance performance.
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.
Sports instructors and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sports Instructor | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $35,285 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $49,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | Education | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a sports instructor and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Sports Instructor | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 sports instructors' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Sports Instructor | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.3% Female, 35.7% | 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% |