Becoming a Personal Trainer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School
is a US school (accredited) offering personal training courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
personal trainers,
personal skills trainers,
trainers,
PT trainers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 228,170 people employed as
fitness trainers and aerobics instructors alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$35,340.
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists make on average $59,070
per year and there are about 219,240
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Personal Trainer
- Health Education
- Clinics
- Research Centers
- Orthopedics
- Support Groups
- Surgeons
- Yoga Clinics
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Hospitals
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Personal Trainer
- Help people physically progress
- Help people with their self esteem
- Have a flexible schedule
- Make good money
- Meet a variety of people
- Stay in good shape
- Promote healthy lifestyles
- Have additional work on the side
- Eat healthy
- Help others with health problems get better
Potential Drawbacks
- Working long hours
- Tough to build client rapport
- Floor hours
- Pay rent to gym
- Relatively unstable
- Job growth is restricted
- Injury risk
- No training provided and have to learn on their own
- Less sleep
- Very costly
Related Professions to Consider
- Fitness Specialist
- Nutritional Team Leader
- Manager
- Exercise Specialist
- Department Head
- Assistant Department Head
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Instructor
- Installer
- Internship Coordinator
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Personal Trainer
- What is the most recent article you've read in a fitness journal?
- How do you envision growing your personal training business?
- What qualities will set you apart from the rest of the personal trainers here?
- What do you think a personal trainers greatest responsibility is?
- Are you CPR certified?
- Are you certified in CPR and first aid?
- What is your refund policy?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Why did you decide to become a personal trainer?
- What is the full cost per session and are there any package deals?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Body By Michael
- Can Do
- Verve
- Michael Strahan
- Verve Fitness
- East Bank Club
- Bally Total Fitness
- Natural Fitness Concepts
- Athletico Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Center
- Stamford Athletic Club
Personal Trainer Training books
Personal Trainer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Health Science & Allied Health Fields
- Occupational Therapy
- Nursing
- Special Education
- Speech Correction Education
- Fitness
- Physical Therapy
- Vitamin Nutrition
- Anatomy
- Sport fitness
Personal Trainer Salary Information
Category: Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
219,240 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$28.4/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.16 |
$20.11 |
$27.14 |
$35.83 |
$45.42 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$59,070 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $27,360 |
$41,820 |
$56,440 |
$74,520 |
$94,470 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.6% |
13.7% |
22.9% |
9.2% |
37.7% |
13.2% |
1.8% |
|
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$44.69/hr
|
$92,940
|
| Mississippi |
$34.01/hr
|
$70,730
|
| Colorado |
$33.23/hr
|
$69,130
|
| North Dakota |
$32.81/hr
|
$68,240
|
| Connecticut |
$32.62/hr
|
$67,850
|
| Delaware |
$32.13/hr
|
$66,830
|
| Missouri |
$31.49/hr
|
$65,500
|
| Idaho |
$30.39/hr
|
$63,220
|
| Nevada |
$29.94/hr
|
$62,280
|
| Nebraska |
$29.94/hr
|
$62,280
|
| Ohio |
$29.74/hr
|
$61,850
|
| Alaska |
$29.65/hr
|
$61,680
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.5/hr
|
$61,360
|
| Tennessee |
$29.25/hr
|
$60,850
|
| District of Columbia |
$29.24/hr
|
$60,820
|
| Wyoming |
$29.16/hr
|
$60,640
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.6/hr
|
$59,490
|
| Indiana |
$28.51/hr
|
$59,300
|
| Maine |
$28.02/hr
|
$58,280
|
| Oregon |
$27.5/hr
|
$57,200
|
| Puerto Rico |
$27.49/hr
|
$57,180
|
| Arkansas |
$27.41/hr
|
$57,000
|
| Hawaii |
$27.02/hr
|
$56,200
|
| New York |
$26.95/hr
|
$56,060
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.91/hr
|
$55,980
|
| Pennsylvania |
$26.81/hr
|
$55,770
|
| Washington |
$26.53/hr
|
$55,180
|
| Guam |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,070
|
| Iowa |
$26.12/hr
|
$54,320
|
| Utah |
$25.91/hr
|
$53,880
|
| New Jersey |
$25.67/hr
|
$53,390
|
| Alabama |
$25.61/hr
|
$53,270
|
| North Carolina |
$25.56/hr
|
$53,170
|
| Kansas |
$25.33/hr
|
$52,690
|
| Montana |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,480
|
| California |
$24.44/hr
|
$50,830
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.28/hr
|
$50,500
|
| Michigan |
$24.27/hr
|
$50,480
|
| South Dakota |
$24.17/hr
|
$50,280
|
| New Mexico |
$23.78/hr
|
$49,450
|
| Louisiana |
$23.63/hr
|
$49,150
|
| Kentucky |
$22.93/hr
|
$47,700
|
| Virginia |
$22.84/hr
|
$47,510
|
| Maryland |
$22.78/hr
|
$47,380
|
| South Carolina |
$22.3/hr
|
$46,380
|
Category: Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,850 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$60,580 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,960 |
$40,020 |
$55,370 |
$76,650 |
$101,350 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.7% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
15.3% |
34.6% |
44.2% |
|
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$56,500
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$32,800
|
| California |
-
|
$49,790
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$88,580
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$47,540
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$67,640
|
| Florida |
-
|
$59,110
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$55,730
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$53,550
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$47,730
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$55,770
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$63,560
|
| Maine |
-
|
$48,550
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$54,860
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$51,260
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$54,580
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$64,840
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$59,700
|
| Montana |
-
|
$68,960
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$55,170
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$49,560
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$47,510
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$47,380
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$48,060
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$74,040
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$58,980
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$50,780
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$62,900
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$55,470
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$51,490
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$52,670
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$77,400
|
| Utah |
-
|
$66,670
|
| Washington |
-
|
$57,540
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$55,600
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$42,250
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$54,670
|
| Guam |
-
|
$62,600
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$50,370
|
Category: Athletic trainers
| Total # Employed in the US |
15,260 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$44,020 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $25,510 |
$33,810 |
$41,340 |
$51,310 |
$65,140 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.1% |
11.9% |
16.7% |
8.4% |
39.1% |
20.7% |
2.1% |
|
Athletic trainers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$39,920
|
| Arkansas |
-
|
$39,140
|
| California |
-
|
$42,480
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$46,650
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$41,550
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$62,590
|
| Florida |
-
|
$72,910
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$45,970
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$41,750
|
| Indiana |
-
|
$46,360
|
| Iowa |
-
|
$43,890
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$46,820
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$43,600
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$37,880
|
| Maine |
-
|
$41,670
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$37,840
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$29,720
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$46,140
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$45,310
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$49,070
|
| Montana |
-
|
$44,580
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$44,130
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$39,790
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$43,430
|
| New Jersey |
-
|
$30,740
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$39,460
|
| New York |
-
|
$49,900
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$47,730
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$52,000
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$28,450
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$47,600
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$40,290
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$37,900
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$42,860
|
| South Dakota |
-
|
$36,380
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$50,420
|
| Utah |
-
|
$38,330
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$50,510
|
| Washington |
-
|
$38,630
|
| West Virginia |
-
|
$35,870
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$45,410
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$45,870
|
| Guam |
-
|
$58,920
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$43,230
|
Category: Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
| Total # Employed in the US |
228,170 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.99/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.9 |
$9.55 |
$14.74 |
$21.98 |
$29.86 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$35,340 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,430 |
$19,860 |
$30,670 |
$45,720 |
$62,120 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.5% |
20.1% |
25.1% |
9.7% |
32.5% |
8.0% |
1.1% |
|
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Oklahoma |
$23.48/hr
|
$48,830
|
| Florida |
$21.91/hr
|
$45,570
|
| Missouri |
$21.84/hr
|
$45,430
|
| North Dakota |
$20.38/hr
|
$42,400
|
| Colorado |
$19.7/hr
|
$40,980
|
| Delaware |
$19.51/hr
|
$40,570
|
| Guam |
$18.88/hr
|
$39,270
|
| Tennessee |
$18.81/hr
|
$39,130
|
| Connecticut |
$18.5/hr
|
$38,470
|
| New York |
$17.88/hr
|
$37,190
|
| Idaho |
$17.58/hr
|
$36,570
|
| Mississippi |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,510
|
| Kansas |
$17.32/hr
|
$36,020
|
| Wyoming |
$16.85/hr
|
$35,050
|
| Arkansas |
$16.77/hr
|
$34,880
|
| Hawaii |
$16.28/hr
|
$33,870
|
| Alaska |
$16.04/hr
|
$33,360
|
| Indiana |
$15.48/hr
|
$32,200
|
| Ohio |
$15.41/hr
|
$32,060
|
| Alabama |
$15.17/hr
|
$31,560
|
| Washington |
$14.94/hr
|
$31,070
|
| Puerto Rico |
$14.91/hr
|
$31,000
|
| Oregon |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,860
|
| North Carolina |
$14.74/hr
|
$30,660
|
| Kentucky |
$14.2/hr
|
$29,530
|
| New Mexico |
$14.2/hr
|
$29,540
|
| Virginia |
$14.19/hr
|
$29,510
|
| Nevada |
$13.93/hr
|
$28,970
|
| Maine |
$13.9/hr
|
$28,900
|
| South Dakota |
$13.86/hr
|
$28,830
|
| Michigan |
$13.82/hr
|
$28,730
|
| New Jersey |
$13.49/hr
|
$28,070
|
| California |
$13.44/hr
|
$27,950
|
| Maryland |
$13.43/hr
|
$27,930
|
| Montana |
$13.28/hr
|
$27,630
|
| Utah |
$13.22/hr
|
$27,490
|
| Iowa |
$13.14/hr
|
$27,330
|
| Nebraska |
$13.05/hr
|
$27,140
|
| District of Columbia |
$13.05/hr
|
$27,150
|
| South Carolina |
$12.7/hr
|
$26,420
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.69/hr
|
$26,400
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.55/hr
|
$26,110
|
| Wisconsin |
$12.3/hr
|
$25,590
|
| Louisiana |
$11.9/hr
|
$24,750
|
| West Virginia |
$11.04/hr
|
$22,970
|
| Pennsylvania |
$10.36/hr
|
$21,560
|
