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The differences between trainers and fitness trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a trainer, becoming a fitness trainer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a trainer has an average salary of $47,574, which is higher than the $28,702 average annual salary of a fitness trainer.
The top three skills for a trainer include PET, training programs and leadership. The most important skills for a fitness trainer are customer service, front desk, and CPR.
| Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,574 | $28,702 |
| Hourly rate | $22.87 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 40,650 | 23,881 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A trainer is responsible for instilling knowledge and process techniques for a specific business role. Duties of a trainer include facilitating engaging classes, identifying areas of improvement and opportunities for the learner, evaluating skills and attending to the learner's challenges, organizing training materials and scheduling training sessions, and submitting timely reports to the management on progress. Trainers are required to have excellent public communication skills and extensive product knowledge to provide effective learning methodologies and maintain strategic project management.
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.
Trainers and fitness trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average salary | $47,574 | $28,702 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $73,000 | Between $19,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Kohler Co. |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a trainer and a fitness trainer in terms of educational background:
| Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between trainers' and fitness trainers' demographics:
| Trainer | Fitness Trainer | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.6% Female, 51.4% | Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.8% White, 59.8% 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 | 12% | 13% |