Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Mean (average) | $52,420 | $25.20 |
| 90th percentile | $83,100 | $39.95 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,180 | $19,330 | $57,320 | 2,680 | 0.61 |
| Alaska | $46,210 | $27,700 | $61,650 | 800 | 1.18 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | $30,770 | $83,200 | 7,010 | 1.04 |
| Arkansas | $42,140 | $26,710 | $59,820 | 1,390 | 0.51 |
| California | $57,990 | $36,750 | $100,920 | 43,600 | 1.15 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | $34,110 | $87,340 | 10,500 | 1.76 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | $34,010 | $103,590 | 2,850 | 0.81 |
| Delaware | $44,340 | $32,150 | $76,450 | 1,210 | 1.21 |
| District of Columbia | $39,210 | $37,080 | $80,610 | 1,480 | 1.01 |
| Florida | $38,800 | $27,450 | $72,870 | 18,070 | 0.88 |
| Georgia | $47,150 | $28,330 | $80,940 | 7,500 | 0.74 |
| Hawaii | $48,290 | $33,420 | $81,090 | 990 | 0.76 |
| Idaho | $49,780 | $29,170 | $76,340 | 2,360 | 1.32 |
| Illinois | $46,800 | $31,210 | $92,780 | 19,830 | 1.57 |
| Indiana | $34,960 | $22,410 | $56,720 | 5,360 | 0.81 |
| Iowa | $36,160 | $24,660 | $52,810 | 2,510 | 0.77 |
| Kansas | $35,900 | $23,980 | $61,900 | 4,510 | 1.51 |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | $23,720 | $70,790 | 1,990 | 0.48 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | $21,190 | $60,180 | 2,290 | 0.57 |
| Maine | $47,060 | $35,230 | $79,040 | 1,140 | 0.86 |
| Maryland | $47,420 | $33,130 | $81,730 | 8,650 | 1.51 |
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | $36,110 | $105,390 | 9,200 | 1.22 |
| Michigan | $45,520 | $28,040 | $76,970 | 6,050 | 0.66 |
| Minnesota | $43,620 | $29,660 | $66,650 | 7,010 | 1.14 |
| Mississippi | $30,540 | $18,720 | $63,390 | 1,260 | 0.52 |
| Missouri | $36,450 | $28,600 | $62,390 | 5,060 | 0.83 |
| Montana | $43,940 | $29,510 | $75,020 | 1,420 | 1.33 |
| Nebraska | $31,440 | $28,080 | $53,480 | 2,410 | 1.13 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | $32,880 | $84,180 | 3,010 | 0.93 |
| New Hampshire | $49,360 | $30,750 | $82,600 | 1,500 | 1.06 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | $34,620 | $104,000 | 11,350 | 1.28 |
| New Mexico | $44,680 | $26,620 | $58,490 | 1,030 | 0.57 |
| New York | $47,090 | $34,300 | $105,700 | 20,140 | 1 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 | $24,910 | $74,210 | 10,670 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $37,760 | $30,140 | $60,070 | 680 | 0.76 |
| Ohio | $36,370 | $24,040 | $59,290 | 9,040 | 0.78 |
| Oklahoma | $44,520 | $21,910 | $61,860 | 2,300 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | $35,390 | $101,380 | 4,800 | 1.17 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,250 | $27,780 | $67,450 | 11,580 | 0.92 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,020 | $21,840 | $30,180 | 260 | 0.14 |
| Rhode Island | $45,640 | $31,200 | $77,230 | 990 | 0.95 |
| South Carolina | $43,630 | $22,730 | $62,120 | 5,130 | 1.07 |
| South Dakota | $40,070 | $30,090 | $58,730 | 950 | 1 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | $26,000 | $74,920 | 5,080 | 0.75 |
| Texas | $40,880 | $21,930 | $76,340 | 19,260 | 0.66 |
| Utah | $44,800 | $25,850 | $83,510 | 6,830 | 1.89 |
| Vermont | $57,300 | $34,210 | $98,730 | 710 | 1.12 |
| Virginia | $40,820 | $26,560 | $74,510 | 12,100 | 1.42 |
| Washington | $50,830 | $38,960 | $93,450 | 9,270 | 1.26 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | $22,290 | $55,180 | 500 | 0.34 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 | $27,900 | $61,600 | 6,330 | 1.04 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | $22,150 | $99,490 | 560 | 0.96 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 68,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 14.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching CIP 13.1314
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General CIP 31.0501
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management CIP 31.0504
- Physical Fitness Technician CIP 31.0507
- Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy CIP 51.3602
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
- Teach and demonstrate use of gymnastic and training equipment, such as trampolines and weights.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Appointment scheduling software
- BioEx Systems Exercise Expert
- BioEx Systems Fitness Maker
- BioEx Systems Nutrition Maker Plus
- Blink
- DaySmart Software Appointment-Plus
- DietMaster Systems DietMaster
- EZFacility Trainer Management System
- Email software
- ICTraining
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Aerobics Instructor, Fitness Instructor, Fitness Specialist, Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Private Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Yoga Instructor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make?
The national median annual wage for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors was $47,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $83,100. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is exercise trainers and group fitness instructors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors to change +7.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 68,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay exercise trainers and group fitness instructors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($64,620), Connecticut ($61,580), New Jersey ($59,870). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.