State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $47,160 a year ($22.67/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% through 2034, with about 74,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 39-9031Personal Care and ServiceLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $47,160
- Projected growth
- +11.9%
- Openings a year
- 74,200
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Aerobics Instructor, Fitness Instructor, Fitness Specialist, Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor.
How much do Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors make?
10th percentile$28,800
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$35,280
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$47,160
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$61,730
Upper quartile
90th percentile$83,100
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $47,160 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $22.67/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $52,420 |
| People employed | 322,930 |
Versus all US occupations
At $47,160, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earn 7% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,820 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 24% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $83,100 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,800, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 22% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $64,620, and still leads at $61,102 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | $61,102 | 9,200 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | $59,434 | 2,850 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | $55,025 | 11,350 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | $56,607 | 4,800 |
| California | $57,990 | $52,375 | 43,600 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | $57,972 | 3,010 |
| Vermont | $57,300 | $58,494 | 710 |
| Washington | $50,830 | $47,499 | 9,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | $54,212 | 560 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | $48,422 | 10,500 |
Is Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor a growing career?
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors11.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+11.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors to change 11.9% over 2024–2034, roughly 3.8× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 44,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 74,200 openings are projected each year, 20.0% of the 370,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Strong demand for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is expected to continue due to widespread participation in a variety of fitness classes and sizable membership at gyms and recreation centers or studios.
As employers continue to recognize the benefits of health and fitness programs for their employees, incentives to join gyms or other types of health clubs are expected to increase the need for fitness trainers and instructors. For example, some organizations may open their own exercise facilities onsite to promote employee wellness.
Other employment growth is projected to come from the continuing emphasis on exercise to combat obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles for people of all ages. As the share of older Americans grows, more people will likely seek to remain active to help prevent common injuries and illnesses associated with aging.
How to become an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor
Personal training is not a licensed occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists certification, not licensure, as the credential for this work, and what actually gates employment is a certification whose exam program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, plus a current adult CPR/AED certificate. That is an employer requirement set by gyms and health clubs, not a legal one.
The credential path, step by step
- Meet the exam eligibility floor
Be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or the equivalent. ACSM, ACE, NASM and NSCA all set this as the minimum to sit their personal trainer exams.
- Get adult CPR and AED certification
Every major certifier requires a current adult CPR/AED certificate before you sit the exam, and ACE specifies a course with a hands-on skills check. Courses without a skills check are not accepted.
- Pass an NCCA-accredited personal trainer exam
Choose one of the NCCA-accredited certifications: ACSM-CPT, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, NASM-CPT or NSCA-CPT. The NASM exam is 120 proctored questions in two hours with a passing score of 70; the ACE exam allows three hours and requires a scaled score of 500.
- Work alongside an experienced trainer before taking your own clients
BLS notes that after becoming certified, new trainers may be required to work alongside an experienced trainer before they are allowed to train clients alone. Group fitness instructors' training varies widely, from roughly 200 to 500 hours depending on the credential.
- Recertify on your certifier's cycle
Each body sets its own renewal period and continuing education requirement. The NSCA recertifies the NSCA-CPT every three years through continuing education units. Keep CPR/AED current throughout, since a lapsed card can put you out of compliance with your employer as well as your certifier.
Exams you have to pass
NASM Certified Personal Trainer Exam (NASM-CPT)
A closed-book, proctored, 120-question exam with a two-hour limit and a passing score of 70, taken in person or online. Eligibility requires a high school diploma or GED and CPR and AED certification, which must be held before sitting the exam.
Administered by National Academy of Sports Medicine.
ACE Certified Personal Trainer Exam
The NCCA-accredited ACE exam, taken either at a proctored in-person session or online with a live remote proctor. Candidates have three hours and need a score of 500 or greater. Eligibility requires being at least 18, holding a high school diploma or equivalent, and holding a current adult CPR and AED certificate with a hands-on skills check.
Administered by American Council on Exercise.
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam (ACSM-CPT)
Taken at a Pearson VUE testing center or online. Eligibility requires being 18 or older, a high school diploma or the equivalent, and adult CPR/AED certification.
Administered by American College of Sports Medicine.
NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Exam (NSCA-CPT)
Eligibility requires being at least 18, a high school diploma or equivalent, and a current CPR/AED certification.
Administered by National Strength and Conditioning Association.
- Program accreditation
NCCA · National Commission for Certifying Agencies
The NCCA, part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, accredits voluntary certification programs against its 2021 Standards on a five-year renewal cycle. It does not certify individuals; it accredits the certifying body's program. Employers in fitness use NCCA accreditation as the dividing line between a credential they will hire on and one they will not, so choosing an NCCA-accredited certification is the practical gate.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Set by each certifying body rather than by law. The NSCA requires recertification of the NSCA-CPT every three years through continuing education units. BLS notes that trainers and instructors also need to keep CPR, first aid and AED certification current. ACSM has announced that from 2027 all its certifications will additionally require first aid training.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
There is no state license to work as a personal trainer. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook's Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations section for this occupation describes certification only and names no licensing authority. The requirement comes from employers: BLS notes that personal trainers usually must be certified before they begin working with clients or with gym members, while group fitness instructors may begin work without certification and are then encouraged or required by employers to obtain it. Because there is no legal standard, the certification you choose matters more than in a licensed field, which is why NCCA accreditation is the marker employers key on.
Who governs the credential
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — Awards the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM-CPT) credential, one of the NCCA-accredited certifications employers recognize.
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) — Awards the NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) credential through an NCCA-accredited certification program.
- American Council on Exercise (ACE) — Awards the ACE Certified Personal Trainer credential via an NCCA-accredited exam, and separately offers a non-accredited ACE Certificate for people testing the field.
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) — Awards the NSCA Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT), which the NSCA states was the first personal training certification to earn NCCA accreditation.
Credential detail for exercise trainer and group fitness instructors is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Fitness Trainers and Instructors, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- Institute for Credentialing Excellence — NCCA Accreditation · checked August 23, 2026
- American College of Sports Medicine — Certified Personal Trainer · checked August 23, 2026
- National Academy of Sports Medicine — Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) · checked August 23, 2026
- American Council on Exercise — Personal Trainer Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- National Strength and Conditioning Association — NSCA-CPT · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
The education and training required for fitness trainers and instructors varies by specialty. Employers usually prefer to hire those with certification, but requirements vary by facility.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as exercise trainers and group fitness instructors.
- Post-Secondary Certificate38.1%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate19.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma14.3%
- High School Diploma9.5%
- Bachelor's Degree9.5%
What does an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor do?
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.
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular workouts (for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.
Day-to-day 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.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
- Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
- Advise clients about proper clothing and shoes.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Many fitness trainers and instructors work variable or part-time schedules that may include nights, weekends, or holidays. Some travel to different gyms or to clients’ homes to teach classes or conduct personal training sessions. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors sometimes hold jobs in other fields and conduct training sessions or teach fitness classes at times that accommodate their work schedules.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where exercise trainers and group fitness instructors work
| Fitness and recreational sports centers | 55% |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 14% |
| Civic and social organizations | 8% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 8% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Speaking3.6/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Learning Strategies3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Writing2.6/5
Transferable skills
- Instructing4.0/5
- Service Orientation3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Persuasion2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.6/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop publishing software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Instant messaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.2
Investigative2.7
Artistic2.4
Socialprimary5.6
Enterprisingprimary3.5
Conventional3.0
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor: frequently asked questions
How much do Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors make?
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors earn a median of $47,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 7% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.67/hr. The middle half earn between $35,280 and $61,730. The top 10% earn $83,100 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 38.1% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 74,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor do?
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular workouts (for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. A core O*NET task: observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors the most?
The highest state medians for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors are Massachusetts ($64,620), Connecticut ($61,580), New Jersey ($59,870) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
O*NET scores Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors highest on the Social, Realistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
Not a state license. There is no state license to work as a personal trainer. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook's Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations section for this occupation describes certification only and names no licensing authority. The requirement comes from employers: BLS notes that personal trainers usually must be certified before they begin working with clients or with gym members, while group fitness instructors may begin work without certification and are then encouraged or required by employers to obtain it. Because there is no legal standard, the certification you choose matters more than in a licensed field, which is why NCCA accreditation is the marker employers key on.
What exams and certifications apply to an Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
The NASM-CPT (NASM Certified Personal Trainer Exam), the ACE Certified Personal Trainer Exam, the ACSM-CPT (ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam), the NSCA-CPT (NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Exam). A closed-book, proctored, 120-question exam with a two-hour limit and a passing score of 70, taken in person or online. Eligibility requires a high school diploma or GED and CPR and AED certification, which must be held before sitting the exam.