Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Aerobics Instructor
- Fitness Instructor
- Group Fitness Instructor
- Personal Trainer
Alternate Job Titles
- Aerobics Instructor
- Aerobics Teacher
- Aquatics Specialist
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Certified Pilates Instructor
- Certified Yoga Instructor
- Exercise Specialist
- Exercise Teacher
- Fitness Attendant
- Fitness Coach
- Fitness Consultant
- Fitness Instructor
- Fitness Specialist
- Fitness Teacher
- Fitness Technician (Fitness Tech)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Adjust workout programs and provide variations to address injuries or muscle soreness.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Instructing
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Extent Flexibility
- Gross Body Coordination
- Oral Expression
- Stamina
- Trunk Strength
- Speech Clarity
- Dynamic Strength
- Static Strength
- Gross Body Equilibrium
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Optimism
- Social Orientation
- Cooperation
- Dependability
- Leadership Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Balance boards
- Balance disks
- Body fat measurement calipers
- Elliptical trainers
- Emergency first aid equipment
- Exercise bands
- Exercise steps
- Exercise tubing
- Fitness jog belts
- Fitness trampolines
- Free weights
- Jump ropes
- Laptop computers
- Lower body weight machines
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Spend Time Standing
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $27,580 |
| Median | $46,180 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $82,050 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 303,620
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $61,340
Exercise Physiologists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $58,160
Coaches and Scouts
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $45,920
Self-Enrichment Teachers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $45,590
Recreational Therapists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $60,280
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.