Average starting salary - The national average earnings for a personal trainer are around $56,000 per year, however this can vary greatly depending on whether or not you work for a corporate gym, a privately owned fitness center or decide to start your own business. There are many independent trainers who make over $100,000 per year once they have built up a sufficient clientele base. The possibilities are endless.
Number of available jobs - Current estimates sit at around 251,000 jobs nationwide. With more and more gyms and new concepts popping up, this is an industry that continues to grow.
Cost of certification - A basic personal training certification will cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 depending on which certification program you go with. With this field being as competitive as it is, you may want to consider adding some specialty certifications to your resume in order to help differentiate yourself from everyone else. This will of course add to the cost. See below for more details on available certifications and how our partnerships with some of these programs can help save you some time and money.
Time required for certification - Most certifications in the personal training industry are self-paced, online courses- meaning there is no set time required for completion. Most certifications recommend around 3 months of study and practice time before attempting their exams. Once certified, there are continuing education requirements and re-certifications required to stay relevant in the field. These vary based on which certification you choose.
