Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (SOC 39-9031) earn a median $47,160 a year ($22.67 an hour) in the United States, with 322,930 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What exercise trainers and group fitness instructors do
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors coach individuals or groups in exercise, with personal fitness as the main purpose. They show correct technique and form, watch participants, and explain what to change to get better. They assess a person's abilities, needs, and physical condition and design a suitable training plan, then follow progress and revise the program as required. In classes they build routines, pick music and movements that suit participants' abilities and limits, and offer alternatives for different fitness levels. They teach and demonstrate gymnastic and training equipment, trampolines and weights among them, and explain and enforce safety rules for sports, recreation, and exercise gear. Classroom teaching, coaching of athletes, and athletic training each have separate codes (25-0000, 27-2022, and 29-9091). Aerobics instructor, aquatics specialist, and certified yoga instructor are among the alternate titles.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a post-secondary certificate as the usual education level (about 38 percent).
Also called: Aerobics Instructor, Aerobics Teacher, Aquatics Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Yoga Instructor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.85 | $16.96 | $22.67 | $29.68 | $39.95 | $25.20 | 322,930 |
| Annual | $28,800 | $35,280 | $47,160 | $61,730 | $83,100 | $52,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $17.36 | $24.41 | $31.07 | $46.22 | $50.67 | $34.79 | 9,200 | 2.53 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $36,110 | $50,760 | $64,620 | $96,140 | $105,390 | $72,370 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $16.35 | $21.95 | $29.61 | $38.84 | $49.80 | $32.15 | 2,850 | 1.68 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $34,010 | $45,660 | $61,580 | $80,790 | $103,590 | $66,870 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.64 | $18.89 | $28.79 | $38.47 | $50.00 | $31.48 | 11,350 | 2.65 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $34,620 | $39,300 | $59,870 | $80,020 | $104,000 | $65,470 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $17.01 | $21.02 | $28.13 | $31.49 | $48.74 | $29.07 | 4,800 | 2.44 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $35,390 | $43,720 | $58,510 | $65,500 | $101,380 | $60,470 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.67 | $21.80 | $27.88 | $35.65 | $48.52 | $30.24 | 43,600 | 2.39 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $45,350 | $57,990 | $74,160 | $100,920 | $62,890 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.67 | $21.80 | $27.88 | $35.65 | $48.52 | $30.24 | 43,600 | 2.39 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $45,350 | $57,990 | $74,160 | $100,920 | $62,890 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.49 | $17.13 | $22.64 | $36.71 | $50.82 | $29.22 | 20,140 | 2.08 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $34,300 | $35,630 | $47,090 | $76,360 | $105,700 | $60,770 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $15.00 | $16.92 | $22.50 | $29.79 | $44.61 | $25.63 | 19,830 | 3.25 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $31,210 | $35,190 | $46,800 | $61,960 | $92,780 | $53,300 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.54 | $14.11 | $19.65 | $27.37 | $36.70 | $21.58 | 19,260 | 1.37 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $21,930 | $29,340 | $40,880 | $56,930 | $76,340 | $44,880 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.20 | $13.93 | $18.65 | $25.30 | $35.04 | $21.46 | 18,070 | 1.82 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $27,450 | $28,970 | $38,800 | $52,630 | $72,870 | $44,630 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $16.71 | $24.15 | $35.53 | $45.59 | $54.73 | $35.72 | 1,120 | 2.78 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $34,750 | $50,240 | $73,910 | $94,830 | $113,840 | $74,300 | ||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $16.44 | $23.57 | $35.00 | $38.17 | $47.34 | $33.40 | 420 | 1.51 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $34,200 | $49,020 | $72,800 | $79,390 | $98,470 | $69,470 | ||||
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | Hourly | $16.35 | $23.60 | $31.73 | $38.13 | $42.36 | $31.89 | 110 | 0.91 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $34,010 | $49,080 | $65,990 | $79,310 | $88,110 | $66,330 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $17.37 | $24.67 | $31.34 | $46.55 | $50.67 | $34.99 | 7,350 | 2.72 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $36,120 | $51,320 | $65,190 | $96,820 | $105,390 | $72,780 | ||||
| Reno, NV | Hourly | $15.73 | $22.56 | $30.91 | $36.07 | $40.44 | $29.29 | 700 | 2.54 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $32,720 | $46,910 | $64,300 | $75,020 | $84,120 | $60,920 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.93 | $18.05 | $25.76 | $40.27 | $51.52 | $31.45 | 22,970 | 2.42 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $35,210 | $37,540 | $53,580 | $83,770 | $107,170 | $65,410 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.13 | $17.20 | $22.92 | $30.33 | $45.63 | $26.47 | 16,350 | 3.62 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $31,470 | $35,770 | $47,680 | $63,080 | $94,920 | $55,050 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.26 | $21.80 | $27.71 | $34.08 | $50.42 | $29.98 | 16,350 | 2.61 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $37,980 | $45,350 | $57,630 | $70,880 | $104,880 | $62,360 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $13.50 | $17.41 | $22.21 | $30.00 | $38.33 | $25.07 | 10,440 | 3.33 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $28,070 | $36,220 | $46,190 | $62,400 | $79,720 | $52,140 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $13.95 | $17.49 | $23.09 | $30.81 | $36.92 | $25.15 | 7,820 | 2.70 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $29,010 | $36,380 | $48,040 | $64,080 | $76,790 | $52,320 | ||||
Top industries employing exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries employ 67.0% of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors nationally (216,490 jobs) at a median $48,110 a year ($23.13 an hour), followed by Civic and Social Organizations (9.7%) and Other Schools and Instruction (7.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 216,490 | 67.0% | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| Civic and Social Organizations NAICS 813400 | 31,360 | 9.7% | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Other Schools and Instruction NAICS 611600 | 23,200 | 7.2% | $45,350 | $21.80 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 14,310 | 4.4% | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Other Personal Services NAICS 812900 | 11,030 | 3.4% | $47,420 | $22.80 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (322,930). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $40,700 for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in May 2021 and $47,160 in May 2025, with employment of 221,600 and 322,930.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $40,700 | $19.57 | 221,600 |
| May 2022 | $45,380 | $21.82 | 250,540 |
| May 2023 | $46,480 | $22.35 | 279,450 |
| May 2024 | $46,180 | $22.20 | 303,620 |
| May 2025 | $47,160 | $22.67 | 322,930 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $31.07 | $64,620 | $36,110 | $105,390 | 9,200 | 2.53 | 1.22 |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | $29.61 | $61,580 | $34,010 | $103,590 | 2,850 | 1.68 | 0.81 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $28.79 | $59,870 | $34,620 | $104,000 | 11,350 | 2.65 | 1.28 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $28.13 | $58,510 | $35,390 | $101,380 | 4,800 | 2.44 | 1.17 |
| 5 | California profile | $27.88 | $57,990 | $36,750 | $100,920 | 43,600 | 2.39 | 1.15 |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $27.87 | $57,960 | $32,880 | $84,180 | 3,010 | 1.94 | 0.93 |
| 7 | Vermont profile | $27.55 | $57,300 | $34,210 | $98,730 | 710 | 2.32 | 1.12 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $24.44 | $50,830 | $38,960 | $93,450 | 9,270 | 2.61 | 1.26 |
| 9 | Wyoming profile | $24.16 | $50,250 | $22,150 | $99,490 | 560 | 1.99 | 0.96 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $23.99 | $49,900 | $34,110 | $87,340 | 10,500 | 3.66 | 1.76 |
| 11 | Idaho profile | $23.94 | $49,780 | $29,170 | $76,340 | 2,360 | 2.75 | 1.32 |
| 12 | New Hampshire profile | $23.73 | $49,360 | $30,750 | $82,600 | 1,500 | 2.19 | 1.06 |
| 13 | Hawaii profile | $23.22 | $48,290 | $33,420 | $81,090 | 990 | 1.57 | 0.76 |
| 14 | Arizona profile | $23.07 | $47,980 | $30,770 | $83,200 | 7,010 | 2.16 | 1.04 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $22.80 | $47,420 | $33,130 | $81,730 | 8,650 | 3.13 | 1.51 |
| 16 | Tennessee profile | $22.78 | $47,380 | $26,000 | $74,920 | 5,080 | 1.55 | 0.75 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $22.67 | $47,150 | $28,330 | $80,940 | 7,500 | 1.53 | 0.74 |
| 18 | New York profile | $22.64 | $47,090 | $34,300 | $105,700 | 20,140 | 2.08 | 1.00 |
| 19 | Maine profile | $22.63 | $47,060 | $35,230 | $79,040 | 1,140 | 1.78 | 0.86 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $22.50 | $46,800 | $31,210 | $92,780 | 19,830 | 3.25 | 1.57 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $22.33 | $46,450 | $24,910 | $74,210 | 10,670 | 2.16 | 1.04 |
| 22 | Alaska profile | $22.22 | $46,210 | $27,700 | $61,650 | 800 | 2.46 | 1.18 |
| 23 | Rhode Island profile | $21.94 | $45,640 | $31,200 | $77,230 | 990 | 1.98 | 0.95 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $21.88 | $45,520 | $28,040 | $76,970 | 6,050 | 1.37 | 0.66 |
| 25 | Kentucky profile | $21.77 | $45,280 | $23,720 | $70,790 | 1,990 | 1.00 | 0.48 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.75 | $45,250 | $27,780 | $67,450 | 11,580 | 1.91 | 0.92 |
| 27 | Utah profile | $21.54 | $44,800 | $25,850 | $83,510 | 6,830 | 3.93 | 1.89 |
| 28 | New Mexico profile | $21.48 | $44,680 | $26,620 | $58,490 | 1,030 | 1.19 | 0.57 |
| 29 | Oklahoma profile | $21.40 | $44,520 | $21,910 | $61,860 | 2,300 | 1.35 | 0.65 |
| 30 | Louisiana profile | $21.35 | $44,410 | $21,190 | $60,180 | 2,290 | 1.18 | 0.57 |
| 31 | Delaware profile | $21.32 | $44,340 | $32,150 | $76,450 | 1,210 | 2.51 | 1.21 |
| 32 | Wisconsin profile | $21.25 | $44,200 | $27,900 | $61,600 | 6,330 | 2.15 | 1.04 |
| 33 | Montana profile | $21.13 | $43,940 | $29,510 | $75,020 | 1,420 | 2.77 | 1.33 |
| 34 | South Carolina profile | $20.98 | $43,630 | $22,730 | $62,120 | 5,130 | 2.23 | 1.07 |
| 35 | Minnesota profile | $20.97 | $43,620 | $29,660 | $66,650 | 7,010 | 2.38 | 1.14 |
| 36 | Arkansas profile | $20.26 | $42,140 | $26,710 | $59,820 | 1,390 | 1.06 | 0.51 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $19.65 | $40,880 | $21,930 | $76,340 | 19,260 | 1.37 | 0.66 |
| 38 | Virginia profile | $19.63 | $40,820 | $26,560 | $74,510 | 12,100 | 2.94 | 1.42 |
| 39 | South Dakota profile | $19.26 | $40,070 | $30,090 | $58,730 | 950 | 2.08 | 1.00 |
| 40 | District of Columbia profile | $18.85 | $39,210 | $37,080 | $80,610 | 1,480 | 2.10 | 1.01 |
| 41 | Alabama profile | $18.84 | $39,180 | $19,330 | $57,320 | 2,680 | 1.27 | 0.61 |
| 42 | Florida profile | $18.65 | $38,800 | $27,450 | $72,870 | 18,070 | 1.82 | 0.88 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $18.33 | $38,120 | $22,290 | $55,180 | 500 | 0.72 | 0.34 |
| 44 | North Dakota profile | $18.15 | $37,760 | $30,140 | $60,070 | 680 | 1.57 | 0.76 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $17.52 | $36,450 | $28,600 | $62,390 | 5,060 | 1.73 | 0.83 |
| 46 | Ohio profile | $17.49 | $36,370 | $24,040 | $59,290 | 9,040 | 1.63 | 0.78 |
| 47 | Iowa profile | $17.39 | $36,160 | $24,660 | $52,810 | 2,510 | 1.61 | 0.77 |
| 48 | Kansas profile | $17.26 | $35,900 | $23,980 | $61,900 | 4,510 | 3.14 | 1.51 |
| 49 | Indiana profile | $16.81 | $34,960 | $22,410 | $56,720 | 5,360 | 1.68 | 0.81 |
| 50 | Nebraska profile | $15.11 | $31,440 | $28,080 | $53,480 | 2,410 | 2.35 | 1.13 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $14.68 | $30,540 | $18,720 | $63,390 | 1,260 | 1.08 | 0.52 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (39-9030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-9031 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-9031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-9031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.