Career
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
Lead workouts and help people get stronger.
$47,160
Median pay
+7.3%
Job growth, 2025–35
68,000
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on people & care, then objects & tools?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Instructing, Service Orientation, Speaking, Active Listening.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though short-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $47,160 a year and 68,000 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Kinesiology and Exercise ScienceSee the degree →
- Teaching (by Subject)See the degree →
- Physical Education Teaching and CoachingCIP 13.1314
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, GeneralCIP 31.0501
- Sport and Fitness Administration/ManagementCIP 31.0504
- Physical Fitness TechnicianCIP 31.0507
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
- Exercise Physiologists$59,460 · +12.8%
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320 · +6.1%
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800 · +3.5%
- Recreational Therapists$61,960 · +4.8%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.