Do personal trainers make good money? (2023)

FAQs

Is it worth becoming a personal trainer? ›

If you want a rewarding career, personal training delivers. There's something incredibly satisfying about helping clients achieve their fitness goals. That's in addition to seeing firsthand the health benefits they receive by boosting their physical activity.

Obviously, we're not. The average income for an entry-level personal trainer is $16.70 per hour or about $34,000 per year. The average for all trainers is about $42,000, with only the top 10 percent exceeding $76,000. (Those numbers go up or down depending on where you live and work.)

In the personal training industry, 25-32 hours is considered full-time (once again, depending on location and self-drive). In order to make 100k, you need to be bringing in $8,333/ month.

Can I make good money as a personal trainer? Yes, making good money as a personal trainer is very viable. Even entry-level personal trainers can make upwards of $25 an hour, and easily up to $100 an hour if they are experienced.

Ross Dickerson, personal trainer to The Rock, is both the highest earning per post and most active fitness influencer on this list. Mr. Dickerson's account is followed by 2.8 million users, and earns an unbelievable $15,000 per post.

With more and more people becoming interested in health and fitness, personal trainers are in high demand. This is a great time to become a personal trainer, as the job market is booming and is only going to continue to grow.

Examples of weaknesses might be the limited visibility of a location, unfamiliarity with specific types of clients such as older adults, being uncomfortable with the sales process and asking clients for money or overall lack of fitness industry experience.

The short answer to this question is that you're never too old. The demographics for personal trainers demonstrate just how diverse this group of professionals is: Female trainers edge out male trainers just slightly. In the group surveyed, 54.5% were women and 45.5% men.

I quit being a personal trainer for three simple reasons; money, disillusionment, and career progression. These are the same reasons that thousands of other personal trainers have quit the industry too. They can't earn enough money, lose faith in what they're doing, and no longer see it as a long-term career.

Is personal training a stressful job? ›

Stress and Frustration. You would think that personal training would be a relatively stress-free job, but you would be VERY wrong. First off, if you are a trainer in a big box gym (like most trainers are) then you will have sales and performance goals.

California has the highest personal trainer salary of $49,724. South Carolina has the lowest personal trainer salary of $23,817. The national average salary for personal trainers is $37,214. The national hourly pay for personal trainers is $17.89.

The Average Number of Years That Personal Trainer Stay in a Job. By looking over 45,858 personal trainers resumes, we figured out that the average personal trainer enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 31%.

Introverted trainers are as effective as extroverted trainers. The key is to have the right mindset, be prepared and focus on developing learners' skills. It doesn't have to be a performance, but it does have to be interesting.

On average Personal Trainers are expected to earn between £15,000 and £60,000 a year across the UK.

The Personal Trainer Development Center states a typical hourly rate of $60 to $70, while Lessons.com puts the national average at $55 per hour. Costs can range widely, though. Find Your Trainer reports that, across the country, personal trainers charge $29 to $166 per session.

The High Cost of Turnover

The annual turnover rate for personal trainers runs between 80-90% on average: the optimal employee turnover rate is 10% or less. The minimally acceptable sales conversion rate is 40%, and the optimal rate is 70%.

So, if you have 5000 followers, you should expect to convert at least 100 people. Based on industry research, consumers typically pay between $15 to $30 per month to access virtual fitness classes. At this rate, you'd stand to earn between $1500 to $3000 per month from subscriptions alone.

They have unrealistic expectations

A lot of beginners are on the right path to success but they don't see it. They have unrealistic expectations and often overlook smaller wins. For some having 3 clients after just two months of running a business is a sign of failure.

What careers can a personal trainer do? ›

On a daily basis, you'll carry out various tasks, starting from assessing your clients' physical condition and creating unique workout routines for them. You'll explain the exercises in a clear and efficient way, while demonstrating how to use the training equipment safely, to avoid injuries.

Working as a Personal Trainer is rewarding, fun and exciting. Also, 57% of Personal Trainers say they do not feel like they are stuck in a career rut, so if you are not enjoying your current job, this is something to consider.

If your trainer's distracted by eating, talking on the phone, browsing Instagram or emailing during your session, it's time to fire him or her, Covington says. “During your sessions, you are 100% the focus,” he says. The same goes if your trainer is constantly talking about his or her life during sessions.

Whether you want to learn how to lift weights properly or do a new exercise, a trainer is a wealth of knowledge. For example, you might think you need to focus on cardio to lose weight, but you need strength training and core training, too,1 and a trainer can help you set up a plan.

The average number of clients seen via individual sessions is thought to be somewhere between 10 and 25.

Recommend Supplements and Specific Diets

In addition to not being able to diagnose medical problems, personal trainers cannot prescribe dietary supplements. Unless they are registered dietitians or have nutritional certification, they should not tell you which supplements to take.

A third of personal trainers lose business because clients can no longer afford their services.

What is the most stressful career? ›

Personal trainers can also assist their clients in nutrition with the proper education. Personal training is a rewarding profession — you get to improve people's lives and see real results over time. On average, personal trainers earn $45,650 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In many circumstances, hours are long and working on your own can be lonely. Health insurance must be contracted for by the individual, there are no paid vacations or sick days, and retirement must be planned for. So how does this relate to Fitness Instructors? 62% of the instructors in the industry are self-employed!

There are over 125,506 certified personal trainers currently employed in the United States. 46.5% of all certified personal trainers are women, while 53.5% are men. The average age of an employed certified personal trainer is 37 years old.

The quick answer to this is no — you are not too old to be a personal trainer. Whether you're 18 or 80, the fact is that there are no age limits when it comes to becoming a personal trainer.

Personal trainers are enthusiastic people who are passionate about helping others hit their fitness goals. With a genuine interest in their clients they help them adopt positive daily habits that improve health and well-being.

Introverts thrive in professions that offer them plenty of space and independence. Most introverts perform better in workplaces with fewer external distractions. Good jobs for introverts include accounting, engineering, and technical writing.

Theoretically, anybody over the age of 18 can become a personal trainer. However, to be approved for essential insurance policies and be listed on the CIMSPA directory as a fitness professional, you'll need a Level 3 diploma in personal training. This qualification is not achieved in a formal education setting.

What is level 4 PT? ›

A Level 4 PT qualification is the highest level of industry recognition, putting you in the top 10% of fitness professionals in the UK. A Level 4 Personal Trainer course covers one of many specialist areas, enhancing your employability and earning potential with the elite REPs Level 4 status.

As an independent contractor, you will get a Form 1099-NEC at tax time instead of a Form W-2. The 1099-NEC will list income details as “non-employee compensation,” and this information is reported to the IRS as well. Double-check your 1099-NEC —it should only include your portion of what the trainees paid.

Find out what others are charging in your area and set your rates to be competitive. Identify a price point that reflects the value of an instructor-led workout in your area and build off that. In general, a good price for small-group programs is approximately $12 to $25 per person, per workout.

Personal trainers are expensive because you're paying them to give you their undivided attention for 30-60 minutes. Many trainers also have advanced degrees and additional certifications, which allows them to charge more money. Other trainers charge a lot of money simply because they know they're good at what they do.

A common approach to pricing personal training services is basing the price on the number of hands-on hours involved. If you determine your hourly rate to be $60 and you spend an hour each week working with or on your clients, you would charge your clients anywhere from $240-$300 per month.

You'll find it incredibly difficult to get personal training clients if no one knows about you or the services you're trying to provide. It's likely you would want your business to be on a busy high street where people actually know where you are and what you're offering.

A personal training career is fantastic for people who love being fit and healthy and want an active job rather than a desk job. Plus, you can be your own boss and make your schedule fit your life. If you have an entrepreneurial streak, there are various opportunities to set up your own business.

As a general rule, the average dedicated person will train 3-4 times per week. So, to keep a regular flow of clients, a successful personal trainer will aim for 15 to 20 paying clients each week.

How much does Kim Kardashian's trainer make? ›

Fitness coach and published author Melissa Alcantara is Kim Kardashian's personal trainer, and earns $6,300 per Instagram post. Her account, featuring 1.1 million followers, posted 105 times over the past year (notably less often than other trainers on this list), earning an estimated $678,000.

Kim Kardashian has maintained a famously fit physique over the years and to do so she has spent a lot of time perfecting her exercise routine with fitness coach, Melissa Alcantara. Alcantara is an expert when it comes to increasing strength and fitness gains and has shared the warmup routine she uses for exactly this.

Using the phone in class or during personal training appointments is the top way to annoy your instructor, followed by skipping appointments and practicing poor personal hygiene. A huge factor in gym anxiety stems from being self-conscious about your appearance.

According to the survey, everyone's hot for their personal trainer. One-fifth of gym-goers have hooked up with their personal trainer, and 70 percent of women who took the survey report that they've fantasized about their trainer during sex.

You should plan on working with a personal trainer for three to six months when you first get started. There are no secret exercises or programs in fitness. If you're doing the right things, your results will compound over time. A good personal trainer will work to help you feel comfortable and confident in your form.

The majority of your clients will be working 9-5 so your schedule has to work around that. This can mean working early mornings, evenings, weekends, or all of the above.

It is recommended that personal training sessions last between 45-60 minutes, although some PTs will offer different availability based on their schedule; they may offer 30, 45, 60, or 90 minute sessions.

How long does it take to train as a personal trainer? ›

It can normally be completed in around three to six months, but the real appeal of this course is that you have up to three years to complete it! Not only that, but as an online course you are completely in control of your start and finish dates, as well as the times that you choose to study!

Adults ages 25 to 34, along with youth 6 to 12, were the most likely to engage in personal training.

Personal Training Rates in the U.S.

The national average cost of personal training in the U.S. is $40-70 per hour-long session. $55 is the average, while $35 is the typical minimum and $120 is on the higher end of the spectrum.