Occupations · Personal Care and Service
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
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. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 39-9031.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 88% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $58,220 | 21,540 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $51,680 | 15,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,200 | 14,180 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,690 | 8,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $60,650 | 8,400 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $46,540 | 7,180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53,860 | 6,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $60,880 | 6,310 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $50,000 | 6,220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,330 | 5,710 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $31,510 | 4,980 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $48,010 | 4,740 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
- Teach and demonstrate use of gymnastic and training equipment, such as trampolines and weights.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
- Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
- Maintain fitness equipment.
- Provide students with information and resources regarding nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues.
- Conduct therapeutic, recreational, or athletic activities.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2025-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2025-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Adjust workout programs and provide variations to address injuries or muscle soreness.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 7
No longer listed 2
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| sports instructor | 3422.5 | exact |
| sophrologist | 3255.6 | close |
| leisure attendant | 3423.2.1 | close |
| sport therapist | 3423.2.4 | close |
| fitness instructor | 3423.2 | broader |
| boxing instructor | 3422.5.1 | broader |
| Pilates teacher | 3423.2.3 | broader |
| personal trainer | 3423.2.2 | broader |
| shiatsu practitioner | 3255.5 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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