The Sizable Salary of Personal Fitness Professionals
Thinking of starting a career in personal fitness but unsure of what your salary might be? Click here for a comprehensive look at a trainers typical income.
You love working out. You love getting into shape, feeling the burn in your muscles as you go that extra mile and you might even love sweating. When you feel passionate about something, it’s probably a smart idea to think about making it your career.
But if you’re going to go through all the training, the education, and expense you want to make sure you can actually earn a living at it. After all, living the dream includes being able to easily afford to buy what you want and need.
So let’s take a closer look at the sizable salary of personal fitness trainers. Then you decide if you want to make it your full-time career or keep it a hobby.
How to Become a Personal Fitness Coach
Before you even begin trying to earn money at this profession, you need to know all the steps you’ll have to take to even become a fitness coach. These steps will help you understand what is expected of you, what the profession is really like, and the possible costs you may incur.
Do Some Research
Start by doing some research. Find out what certification program is right for you. Don’t just stick to doing online research either, stop by your local gyms and ask the personal fitness trainers there how they got their start.
Choose Your Program
Before you choose which program will fit you best, take into account the amount of time and work you’ll need to put into the program to receive certification. Are you ready for that commitment? Is this the best time?
Some programs allow you to study with little guidance. This is great for people who are busy and have excellent time management skills. However, for those who require a more hands-on approach, a different type of program may be required for you to realize success.
Most programs typically take 80-100 hours to complete. Most students, depending upon their schedules typically take three to four months to complete their certification programs.
Schedule and Take Your Exam
There are a few prerequisites you’ll need to fulfill before you can take your exam. They are:
- You must be over 18 years old
- You must have a high school diploma or GED
- You must hold a current CPR/AED certification with a live skills check
- You must present a valid id before you’ll be allowed to take the test
Start Your Career
You’re finally ready to begin the perfect career for you! So let’s take a look at those salaries.
Factors that Will Affect Your Salary as a Personal Fitness Trainer
There are a lot of factors that go into how well a person is paid. It’s important to consider all of them if you’re really committed to making personal fitness as your career path. Here are a few:
Location, Location, Location
If you live in rural Tennessee, would you expect to see celebrities? Probably not. But if you live in NYC you could expect to see celebrities on occasion just by walking around. It’s all about location.
The location also matters when you’re talking about how much money or success your career can have. Salaries often vary according to where you are based geographically.
Don’t forget that if you live in a rural town, your bills will also be lower. You might be paying $600 while in New York, that same amount of space could cost you $2,500 or higher.
Your Education
Education matters. Especially where it concerns your career. The more you know, the better you will be at your profession. The more skills and tools you can bring to the table, which means you’ll earn a higher wage.
Having a higher level of education can also afford you further opportunities within the field of physical fitness. Here are some specializations you’d need a higher degree for:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise physiology
- Health psychology
Which Certifications You Have
The more certifications and the higher level of certifications you have, the more money you can make. Whether you decide to work for another company or go into business for yourself, the more certifications behind you, the more likely it is people will want to work with you.
Your Experience
The more you work in your business, the higher your wages will be. That’s because you have experience. There’s nothing that can compare to experience. No amount of education or preparation can ever provide the type of training being out in the real world can provide to you.
Don’t forget that you have more experience than personal fitness. You may have other skills that are also highly marketable to others such as:
- Marketing experience
- Customer service experience
- Sales experience
Your Commitment
Would you ever tell a client to work out once and then give up? Of course not. You would explain to them that commitment is a huge part of becoming physically fit.
So why would your career require anything less than 100% commitment on your part? Most overnight success stories are really about that person committing all their time and energy into focusing on the outcome that they want until it finally shows up.
Then they commit to continuing on their successful path. Commitment isn’t just about physically showing up, it’s about believing in yourself and your ability to create a brighter future for yourself.
People will see and be drawn to that type of commitment. So even when times get tough, never give up. It will make you a better physical fitness trainer.
The Various Career Paths a Personal Fitness Trainer Can Take
There are several avenues you can choose from when beginning your career as a personal fitness trainer. However, if you find you’re not enjoying where you are, don’t be afraid to try something new. Here’s a list of typical fitness career opportunities:
Work in a Gym as a Personal Trainer
Working in a gym is an ideal spot for a lot of people, especially when they are starting out. Sometimes income is based on an hourly wage while other times it’s based on commissions depending on how many clients you bring in each month.
Working at a gym is a great place to start acquiring a loyal customer base and earn a steady income. Most personal fitness trainers earn between $25,000 and $55,000 per year.
Start Your Own Personal Trainer Business
There’s nothing like being your own boss. You can set your own hours, choose who you want to work with and work anywhere you want. Even your own home.
However, you also have to invest the time and commitment it takes to get and keep clients. It also may mean less reliable income in the beginning. However, if you have an understanding of sales and marketing, this may be a great career choice for you.
Most salaries range between $30,000 to $125,000. Unless Oprah discovers you, then it’s limitless.
Become a Group Trainer
Rather than focusing on training one person at a time, a group trainer has three to four people they’re training at the same time. There are benefits to this for both the clients and the personal trainer.
The clients still are able to enjoy individualized attention from such a small group and the rates tend to be lower as well. The trainer benefits by receiving more income per hour, access to more potential clients, and the possibility of being hired for clients wanting individual attention.
The average income for a group trainer ranges between $30,000 to $60,000.
Become a Program Developer
It’s a sought after skill to be able to choreograph exercise routines. Many businesses from gyms to resorts to rehab centers are anxious to hire someone who has the skills and knowledge to create programs that are designed specifically for their clientele.
In many cases, specialized knowledge will be required to create programs. This can also mean more money as more education was required for you to learn these skills:
- Nutrition
- Weight management
- Injury prevention
- Strength training
The typical salary for program developers ranges from $35,000 to $70,000.
Be a Training Supervisor
Remember that old adage, “those who can’t do, teach.” Sometimes people are more suited to helping others become personal fitness trainers than being ones themselves.
Often these positions are found in gyms where there are several trainers who would benefit from supervision. This is also often a salaried position and can sometimes lead to becoming an owner. However, a supervisor must first learn the following skills:
- Assessment
- Communication
- Business strategy
Most training supervisors earn between $50,000 and $75,000.
No matter which direction your personal fitness career takes you, commitment, education, and skills will always be your tickets to success. Our database of online courses and tests can help ensure you’re on the right career path.
But that’s not all, ExpertRating’s products and services are popular among private individuals and corporate entities alike. More than 2,700,000 individuals across the world have obtained ExpertRating certifications since the company’s inception in the year 2000.
So take a chance on yourself and start your career path today. Take a look at our test and certification categories and see how high you can soar. We’ll be there to help guide and support your career every step of the way.