Are you looking to make a career move into personal training but not sure if it’s worth the investment? A personal trainer earns an average of $27 per hour, and with the right skills, you can make upwards of $50 – $80 per hour.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into what factors affect how much you earn as a personal trainer and cover some tips for success in the field. Whether you are just starting or considering transitioning from another fitness-related career, there is something in this blog post for everyone.
We’ll explore why personal trainers can charge different amounts for their services depending on their experience, skillset, and location. Next, we’ll look at how to maximize your earning potential as a personal trainer.
Contents
3 Types Of Gym Pay Structures Common To Personal Trainers
Before you jump into becoming a personal trainer, it is important to understand the different types of gym pay structures that are common in this industry. Let’s explore three common pay structures and how they can impact your earnings as a personal trainer.
Commercial Gym Pay Structure
This is one of the most popular pay structures for personal trainers since it provides job security and steady income. Commercial gyms offer personal trainers a salary plus commission or bonuses depending on how many clients they can attract.
In most cases, commercial gyms also provide staff benefits such as health insurance, vacation time, and retirement plans.
The downside of this structure is that it offers limited growth potential due to strict policies regarding hours worked and clientele limits.
Independent Personal Trainer Pay Structure
In this type of pay structure, the personal trainer works independently from any gym or fitness facility. This means that all profits generated from clients come directly to them with no other parties involved.
Independent personal trainers have more control over their working hours and clientele limits but must be prepared to invest in their marketing efforts.
It also requires more commitment in terms of managing finances, bookkeeping, taxes, etc., which may not be suitable for everyone.
1099 Personal Trainer Pay Structure
The 1099 model is similar to the independent structure but with a few key differences. The 1099 model consists of multiple independent contractors working together at one location or facility under the same contractual agreement.
This allows trainers to combine their resources (marketing efforts, equipment costs) while still receiving individual payment through 1099 contracts instead of salaries or hourly wages like in traditional gyms.
This model gives trainers more freedom when it comes to setting their prices and working hours while still having access to resources from other members at the facility.
How Much Money Can You Make As A Personal Trainer?
Location & Experience Matters
The amount of money you can make as a personal trainer depends largely on two factors: your location and experience.
As with any job, those who work in more populated areas often have the potential to earn higher salaries than those located in rural areas. However, depending on the size of your city or town, there may be less competition for jobs as a personal trainer in more rural locations.
This could potentially increase your earning potential because fewer trainers are competing for clients.
Another factor that affects how much you can make is your experience level—the longer you are in the business and the better reputation you have built up over time, the more money you can charge per hour.
Your certifications also play an important role:
If you have multiple certifications from well-respected organizations such as ACE (American Council on Exercise), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), or ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), this could potentially increase your rate.
Finally, if you offer unique services such as nutritional counseling or online coaching sessions alongside traditional training sessions, this could potentially increase your rates further too.
Your Rate & Clients Per Week
Your rate will also depend on how many clients per week you take on and what they pay per session. For example, if you charge $50/session and take on 5 clients per week at 30 minutes each session ($25/hour), this would equate to $1250/week or $60000/year before taxes!
Of course, this rate isn’t set in stone – some trainers will charge more for longer sessions or private one-on-one sessions versus group classes—and some trainers may charge less for larger groups or special promotions throughout the year.
Ultimately it depends on how much value both parties feel is being exchanged for each session.
however, keep in mind that even at lower rates than average it’s possible to make a decent living by taking on enough clients per week!
How To Earn More As A Personal Trainer
If you want to earn more, there are certain steps you can take to increase your earnings. From obtaining certifications and utilizing online marketing methods to offering group personal training sessions, there are plenty of ways you can add extra revenue streams and drive more business. Let’s explore these options in more detail.
Obtain Certifications
One of the most important things you can do as a personal trainer is to obtain certifications. Certified trainers usually make more money than non-certified ones because they prove they are knowledgeable in their field and that they understand proper safety protocols when it comes to clients.
Certification also increases your credibility with potential customers and gives them confidence that you know what you’re doing.
And the best part is, certification isn’t too expensive or time-consuming. It’s well worth investing in yourself and getting certified!
Use Online Marketing Methods
Another way to earn more as a personal trainer is by using online marketing methods. You can use social media, email newsletters, video conferencing platforms, etc., to get the word out about your services.
With online marketing, you have access to an unlimited number of potential customers who may not be aware that your services exist or how beneficial they can be for them.
Plus, online marketing makes it easier for customers to find and contact you—which means more inquiries and potentially more business opportunities for you!
Offer Group Personal Training Sessions
Group personal training sessions are another great way to earn more as a personal trainer. Group sessions allow multiple people to train together at once—which means less time spent on each session but still enough time for everyone involved gets the attention they need from the trainer (you!).
This allows trainers to work with larger groups of people while still having enough time left over in their schedule for additional one-on-one sessions with clients who need extra help or attention during their workout routines.
Plus, it’s cost-effective because clients will pay one fee for an entire session instead of paying separately for each person attending—so everybody wins!
Conclusion:
Becoming a personal trainer is not only a great way to make a living, but it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling career. With dedication and hard work, trainers can not only earn a salary that matches their skill level and experience, but they can also positively impact the lives of others.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to what kind of income you can make as a personal trainer – from salaries starting at $30,000 for entry-level positions to six-figure salaries for top trainers who have built up their client base over time. While the average certified personal trainer makes around $50,000 per year, experienced professionals with multiple certifications are often able to command higher wages due to their vast knowledge and expertise in the field.
Working as a personal trainer is more than just making money – it’s about helping people achieve their fitness goals and inspiring them to lead healthier lives. If you’re looking for an exciting career path with plenty of room for growth, becoming a certified personal trainer may be the perfect fit.
