Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.
What it pays
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earn a median of $22.67/hr — about $47,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $13.85/hr; the top 10% earn $39.95/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earn a median of $22.67/hr — about $47,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $13.85/hr; the top 10% earn $39.95/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
You're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 14.3% of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, hands-on and take-charge.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a exercise trainers and group fitness instructor make?
- The median pay is $22.67 per hour — roughly $47,000 a year, with the real range running from about $13.85/hr (10th percentile) to $39.95/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a exercise trainers and group fitness instructor?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a exercise trainers and group fitness instructor actually do all day?
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement. Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements. Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.