Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Salary
Personal Care and Service Occupations · 323K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$47,160
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$52,420
Typical range
$28,800–$83,100
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $47,160 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $28,800 and $83,100 a year. There are roughly 323K people employed as exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors.
- Hourly
- $22.67
- Daily
- $181
- Weekly
- $907
- Bi-weekly
- $1,814
- Monthly
- $3,930
- Annual
- $47,160
$47,160 a year is around the 50th percentile for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss. The median is $47,160.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$64,620
- 2Connecticut$61,580
- 3New Jersey$59,870
- 4Oregon$58,510
- 5California$57,990
- 6Nevada$57,960
- 7Vermont$57,300
- 8Washington$50,830
- 9Wyoming$50,250
- 10Colorado$49,900
- 11Idaho$49,780
- 12New Hampshire$49,360
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$73,910
- 2New Haven, CT$72,800
- 3Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$65,990
- 4Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$65,190
- 5Reno, NV$64,300
- 6Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$62,500
- 7Barnstable Town, MA$62,400
- 8Carson City, NV$62,400
- 9San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,010
- 10Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$61,440
- 11Pittsfield, MA$61,410
- 12San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$61,000
Related job titles
Employers advertise Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors does
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors make?
- The median annual wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $47,160 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $28,800 at the 10th percentile to $83,100 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $52,420, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $64,620.
- Is Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 323K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors do?
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.; Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.; Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations..