Personal Trainers

Overview

Introduction

Personal trainers, often known as fitness trainers, assist people with exercise, weight training, weight loss, nutrition, and medical rehabilitation. During one training session, or over a period of several sessions, these instructors teach their clients how to achieve their health and fitness goals. They train in the homes of their clients, their own studio spaces, or in health clubs. There are approximately 350,100 fitness trainers and instructors working in the United States, either independently or on the staff of a fit...

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$45,074

Employment Prospects

Good

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Some Postsecondary Training


Experience

One to two years experience recommended


Skills

Coaching/Physical Training|Interpersonal|Teaching


Personality Traits

Athletic|Helpful|Social

Earnings

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in May 2023 the median annual salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, which includes personal trainers, was $46,480. The median annual salary for workers in all careers was $48,069. The lowest paid 10 percent of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earned $26,840 or less and the highest paid 10 percent earned $80,740 or mo...

Work Environment

Personal training is obviously a physically demanding job, but anybody who is in good shape and who eats a healthy diet should be able to handle the demands. Personal trainers who work out of their homes will enjoy familiar and comfortable surroundings. Trainers who work in a gym as independent contractors will also experience a comfortable workplace. Most good gyms maintain a cool temperature,...

Outlook

Fitness training will continue to enjoy strong growth in the near future. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment opportunities for fitness trainers and instructors will increase 14 percent from 2023 to 2033, a rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby boomers grow older, they will increasingly rely on the services of personal trainers. Boomers hav...