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Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
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.
Other titles employers use
Aerobics Instructor · Fitness Instructor · Fitness Specialist · Fitness Trainer · Group Exercise Instructor · Group Fitness Instructor · Personal Trainer · Private Trainer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, practical and persuading work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Instructing
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Stamina
- Extent Flexibility
- Gross Body Coordination
- Trunk Strength
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.2 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.5 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 38%
- A master's degree 29%
- High school or less 24%
- A four-year degree 9%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Accounting software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Calendar and scheduling software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 55,600
- Job openings each year
- 10,270
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 55,600 | 10,270 | 20.9% |
| Texas | 36,580 | 6,770 | 25.3% |
| New York | 23,780 | 420 | 21.5% |
| Florida | 21,730 | 4,020 | 27.2% |
| Illinois | 18,460 | 3,400 | 12.7% |
| Washington | 17,430 | 3,700 | 28.3% |
| Wisconsin | 13,570 | 2,510 | 18.9% |
| New Jersey | 13,360 | 2,470 | 24.7% |
| Colorado | 13,290 | 2,460 | 21.6% |
| Virginia | 12,400 | 2,290 | 14.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,160 | 2,240 | 10.6% |
| North Carolina | 11,610 | 2,150 | 28.6% |
| Ohio | 10,460 | 1,920 | 9.3% |
| Arizona | 8,520 | 1,580 | 23.5% |
| Minnesota | 8,170 | 1,510 | 15.2% |
| Maryland | 7,920 | 1,460 | 21.8% |
| Missouri | 7,210 | 1,330 | 10.2% |
| Indiana | 6,440 | 1,190 | 15.4% |
| Michigan | 6,440 | 1,180 | 7.5% |
| Connecticut | 6,390 | 1,180 | 28.1% |
| Utah | 6,280 | 1,170 | 40.5% |
| Georgia | 6,130 | 1,140 | 32.4% |
| Tennessee | 5,400 | 1,000 | 28.3% |
| Kansas | 5,320 | 980 | 11.5% |
| South Carolina | 5,310 | 980 | 16.4% |
| Oregon | 5,270 | 980 | 28.5% |
| Massachusetts | 4,670 | 860 | 20.7% |
| Alabama | 4,360 | 800 | 18.2% |
| Idaho | 4,090 | 760 | 36.8% |
| Oklahoma | 3,980 | 730 | 17.1% |
| Iowa | 3,750 | 690 | 15.0% |
| Kentucky | 3,170 | 590 | 18.3% |
| Louisiana | 2,980 | 550 | 15.1% |
| Nebraska | 2,900 | 540 | 19.8% |
| New Hampshire | 2,440 | 450 | 17.9% |
| Nevada | 2,170 | 400 | 8.0% |
| New Mexico | 2,140 | 400 | 44.6% |
| Montana | 2,030 | 380 | 20.8% |
| Rhode Island | 1,930 | 360 | 17.0% |
| Mississippi | 1,900 | 350 | 15.2% |
| Arkansas | 1,550 | 290 | 17.4% |
| North Dakota | 1,390 | 260 | 14.9% |
| Vermont | 1,230 | 230 | 24.2% |
| Delaware | 1,220 | 230 | 10.9% |
| South Dakota | 1,140 | 210 | 14.0% |
| District of Columbia | 990 | 180 | 25.3% |
| Maine | 960 | 180 | 5.5% |
| West Virginia | 880 | 160 | 17.3% |
| Alaska | 800 | 150 | 21.2% |
| Wyoming | 560 | 100 | 21.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 480 | 90 | 50.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Iowa
- Degrees each year
- 620
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 542
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 466
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
University of Memphis
- Degrees each year
- 443
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 423
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Degrees each year
- 479
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 397
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Degrees each year
- 382
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Compare every college offering sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness