How much does a exercise trainer and group fitness instructor make?
The median exercise trainer and group fitness instructor in the United States earns $47,160 per year, about $22.67 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 39-9031.
Exercise trainer and group fitness instructor salary range
Pay for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,800 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $83,100. The average (mean) wage of $52,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,800 | $13.85 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 | |
| Median (50th) | $47,160 | $22.67 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $61,730 | $29.68 | |
| 90th percentile | $83,100 | $39.95 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (SOC 39-9031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Exercise trainer and group fitness instructor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn the most in Massachusetts at $64,620 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $30,540. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | 9,200 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | 2,850 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | 11,350 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | 4,800 |
| California | $57,990 | 43,600 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | 3,010 |
| Vermont | $57,300 | 710 |
| Washington | $50,830 | 9,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | 560 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | 10,500 |
| Idaho | $49,780 | 2,360 |
| New Hampshire | $49,360 | 1,500 |
| Hawaii | $48,290 | 990 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | 7,010 |
| Maryland | $47,420 | 8,650 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | 5,080 |
| Georgia | $47,150 | 7,500 |
| New York | $47,090 | 20,140 |
| Maine | $47,060 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $46,800 | 19,830 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 | 10,670 |
| Alaska | $46,210 | 800 |
| Rhode Island | $45,640 | 990 |
| Michigan | $45,520 | 6,050 |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | 1,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,250 | 11,580 |
| Utah | $44,800 | 6,830 |
| New Mexico | $44,680 | 1,030 |
| Oklahoma | $44,520 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | 2,290 |
| Delaware | $44,340 | 1,210 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 | 6,330 |
| Montana | $43,940 | 1,420 |
| South Carolina | $43,630 | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $43,620 | 7,010 |
| Arkansas | $42,140 | 1,390 |
| Texas | $40,880 | 19,260 |
| Virginia | $40,820 | 12,100 |
| South Dakota | $40,070 | 950 |
| District of Columbia | $39,210 | 1,480 |
| Alabama | $39,180 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $38,800 | 18,070 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | 500 |
| North Dakota | $37,760 | 680 |
| Missouri | $36,450 | 5,060 |
| Ohio | $36,370 | 9,040 |
| Iowa | $36,160 | 2,510 |
| Kansas | $35,900 | 4,510 |
| Indiana | $34,960 | 5,360 |
| Nebraska | $31,440 | 2,410 |
| Mississippi | $30,540 | 1,260 |
State median wages for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (SOC 39-9031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
The BLS projects employment of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 388,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 416,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 68,000 openings a year for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor
The typical entry-level education for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $64,620) and the lowest (Mississippi, $30,540) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 322,930 people work as exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the United States. At $47,160 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Exercise trainer and group fitness instructor salary FAQ
How much does an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor is $22.67. The middle half of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn between $16.96 and $29.68 per hour.
What is the highest exercise trainer and group fitness instructor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn more than $83,100 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor make a year?
The median annual salary for an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor is $47,160. The average (mean) wage of $52,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor a well paid job?
At $47,160 a year, an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 322,930 people work as exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the United States.
Which state pays exercise trainers and group fitness instructors the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors at $64,620 a year. Connecticut ($61,580) and New Jersey ($59,870) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor a good career?
Employment of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is projected to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 68,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an exercise trainer and group fitness instructor?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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