How it works
Want to train people for a living but not sure whom? These 44 kinds of fitness trainer, from in-home personal trainer to strength and conditioning coach, are grouped by who is trained: one client, a class, athletes, seniors or youth.
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Certificate first
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says personal trainers usually must be certified before they work with clients. Group fitness instructors may start without a certificate, though employers often encourage or require one. Most also need CPR, first aid and defibrillator (AED) certification.
Which certificate counts
Many organizations certify trainers, and the bureau names none. The United States Registry of Exercise Professionals lists people whose certificates are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or meet the ISO 17024 standard.
Where the work is
Of about 388,400 fitness trainer and instructor jobs in 2025, 55 percent were in fitness and recreational sports centers, 15 percent were self-employed, 8 percent in civic and social organizations and 7 percent in education.
- New trainers may have to work alongside an experienced trainer before they train clients alone, the bureau notes.
Questions and answers
What are the different types of personal trainers?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics names two: exercise trainers, also called personal fitness trainers, who work with one client or a small group, and group fitness instructors, who lead classes. Within those, trainers specialize by client, by setting or by method.
Do you need a degree to be a personal trainer?
Typically not: the bureau gives a high school diploma as the usual entry requirement. Employers may prefer an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a field such as exercise science or kinesiology, and a management job may need a bachelor’s.
What is the difference between a personal trainer and an athletic trainer?
An athletic trainer is a health care worker who prevents, diagnoses and treats muscle and bone injuries, typically needs a master’s degree, and is licensed or certified in nearly all states. A personal trainer leads clients in exercise.
What is a strength and conditioning coach?
A coach who uses exercise to improve the performance of competitive athletes and teams. Wikipedia’s article says the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credential is often considered the gold standard for the job, and that it requires a bachelor’s degree.
How much do personal trainers make?
The bureau’s median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors was $47,160 in May 2025. The lowest-paid tenth earned less than $28,800 and the highest-paid tenth more than $83,100. Many work variable or part-time schedules.