Looking for a career path in an industry that's stable, with lots of room for growth, and a fairly high starting salary? Consider becoming a personal trainer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), at $40,510 per year, the pay for personal trainers is good. With a growth rate of 15%, there is plenty of job security and room for advancement within the industry.
Personal trainers work one-on-one with clients to develop and implement fitness routines. They begin by working with these clients to identify goals related to losing weight, gaining strength, and improving overall physical and mental health, then teach them how to perform the exercises required to meet these goals. A personal trainer's primary goal is to improve their clients' overall well-being.
For a more detailed breakdown on becoming a personal trainer, check out our How to Become a Personal Trainer guide.
How Much Does a Personal Trainer Make in the United States?
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for a personal trainer or fitness trainer is $45,650 per year. This is roughly $10,000 less than the average salary for all occupations, but it's a decent amount given you don't need to go to college to become a personal trainer.
But the salary isn't the only reason individuals decide to become personal trainers. A passion for fitness, a desire to help others change their lives, and overall career stability are commonly cited reasons for entering the field.
Helping others achieve happiness by transforming their physical and mental health and building their self-worth might be a more motivating reason to join the industry than money alone.
[category-tab-list title="Salary Changes Throughout the Career Path" description="As with any career, there is a certain amount of fluctuation in compensation in the personal training industry. Here is a closer look at average salaries throughout the career path:
" theme="primary"]
Entry-level personal trainers with less than one year of experience reported making just over $30,000 a year on average. For a first job, this isn't a bad wage, and you can quickly build your client base to earn more.
Once you gain a few years of experience, you can expect to earn an average salary of nearly $46,000 mentioned above. At this point, you'll ideally also have an established client base and network of fitness industry professionals.
After working as a personal trainer, you could work your way up to become a fitness director. Fitness Directors oversee gym operations and lead the personal training team. Here, you could make more than $80,000.
If you are dedicated to the fitness industry and want to work for yourself, owning your own gym might be a good next step in your career path. You could make upwards of $100,000 as a medium-sized gym owner, but you'll also be responsible for:
The personal trainers you employ
Your gym members
All other employees
Equipment
Maintenance costs
