An Introduction to a Career as a Personal Trainer?

Answer 1

By the year 2018, the number of personal trainers is expected to rise by almost 30 percent compared to the number of trainers in 2008. This rapid career growth means that people who want to work in fitness have a good chance of making a long career out of it. The path to becoming a personal trainer is varied but requires only basic certifications for entry-level work. Personal trainers should be in shape themselves as they need to convince clients to trust their expertise. The job also often requires personal trainers to work out with their clients or to demonstrate exercises, meaning that the trainers need to be capable of completing the exercises on their own.

Personal trainers begin their careers by gaining certifications. Industry organizations, such as the National Federation of Personal Trainers and the American Council on Exercise, offer education. These programs range from weekend seminars that lead to basic certifications to months-long training programs for advanced work. Once someone has these certifications, he or she is prepared to begin work as a trainer.

The majority of personal trainers work for private gyms or recreational facilities. These trainers usually work part-time with clients who sign up for one-on-one services, but the trainers also may teach courses or carry out some administrative tasks. About 15 percent of personal trainers work for governmental organizations, such as a county's recreational program. Others may work for hospitals or medical centers or for themselves, advertising their services and taking on private clients. About 40 percent of all personal trainers work only part-time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Though fitness training is a rapidly growing field, the pay is not significant. Personal trainers typically make between $20,000 and $40,000 annually, though some of them may earn more if they take on higher-end private clients. Personal training is a physically demanding job, and few trainers work full-time, making the hourly rate higher than it would appear for people who earn the same income but work full-time hours. Personal trainers may increase their income by taking on more managerial or administrative tasks.