Careers / Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$47,160

United States, 2025

Employment

322,930

United States, 2025

Typical education

Post-Secondary Certificate

Job Zone 3

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

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.

O*NET code
39-9031.00
Job zone
3
Experience required
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

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.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$28,800
10th
$35,280
25th
$47,160
Median
$61,730
75th
$83,100
90th

10th percentile

$28,800

25th percentile

$35,280

75th percentile

$61,730

90th percentile

$83,100

Most important skills

  • Instructing4.0
  • Service Orientation3.8
  • Speaking3.6
  • Active Listening3.3
  • Learning Strategies3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
  • Coordination3.0
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  • Reading Comprehension3.0
  • Time Management3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Active Learning3.0

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 13 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

13

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Instructing4.03.8Not selected3.8
Service Orientation3.83.3Not selected3.3
Learning Strategies3.13.6Not selected3.6
Speaking3.63.0Not selected3.0
Monitoring3.03.6Not selected3.6
Active Listening3.33.0Not selected3.0
Social Perceptiveness3.13.0Not selected3.0
Reading Comprehension3.03.1Not selected3.1
Coordination3.03.0Not selected3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.03.0Not selected3.0
Time Management3.03.0Not selected3.0
Critical Thinking3.03.0Not selected3.0
Active Learning3.03.0Not selected3.0

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
Bridgeport, CT$73,9101,1202025
New Haven, CT$72,8004202025
Norwich, CT$65,9901102025
Boston, MA$65,1907,3502025
MA$64,6209,2002025
Reno, NV$64,3007002025
Santa Rosa, CA$62,5007802025
Carson City, NV$62,400502025
Barnstable Town, MA$62,4002302025
San Jose, CA$62,0102,7402025
CT$61,5802,8502025
Atlantic City, NJ$61,4402702025
Pittsfield, MA$61,4101802025
San Francisco, CA$61,0006,8202025
Hanford, CA$60,690802025
Bend, OR$60,6704602025
Santa Cruz, CA$60,5803702025
Burlington, VT$60,1703302025
Amherst Town, MA$60,0602002025
Salinas, CA$59,9103302025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.