Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary in the U.S.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in the U.S. earn a median of $47,160 a year ($22.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 322,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,100 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $52,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 |
| Median | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| 75th percentile | $61,730 | $29.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Average (mean) | $52,420 | $25.20 |
Half of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,930 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,965 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,813.85 |
| Weekly | $906.92 |
| Hourly | $22.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | 9,200 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | 2,850 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | 11,350 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | 4,800 |
| California | $57,990 | 43,600 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | 3,010 |
| Vermont | $57,300 | 710 |
| Washington | $50,830 | 9,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | 560 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | 10,500 |
| Idaho | $49,780 | 2,360 |
| New Hampshire | $49,360 | 1,500 |
| Hawaii | $48,290 | 990 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | 7,010 |
| Maryland | $47,420 | 8,650 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | 5,080 |
| Georgia | $47,150 | 7,500 |
| New York | $47,090 | 20,140 |
| Maine | $47,060 | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $46,800 | 19,830 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 | 10,670 |
| Alaska | $46,210 | 800 |
| Rhode Island | $45,640 | 990 |
| Michigan | $45,520 | 6,050 |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | 1,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,250 | 11,580 |
| Utah | $44,800 | 6,830 |
| New Mexico | $44,680 | 1,030 |
| Oklahoma | $44,520 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | 2,290 |
| Delaware | $44,340 | 1,210 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 | 6,330 |
| Montana | $43,940 | 1,420 |
| South Carolina | $43,630 | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $43,620 | 7,010 |
| Arkansas | $42,140 | 1,390 |
| Texas | $40,880 | 19,260 |
| Virginia | $40,820 | 12,100 |
| South Dakota | $40,070 | 950 |
| District of Columbia | $39,210 | 1,480 |
| Alabama | $39,180 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $38,800 | 18,070 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | 500 |
| North Dakota | $37,760 | 680 |
| Missouri | $36,450 | 5,060 |
| Ohio | $36,370 | 9,040 |
| Iowa | $36,160 | 2,510 |
| Kansas | $35,900 | 4,510 |
| Indiana | $34,960 | 5,360 |
| Nebraska | $31,440 | 2,410 |
| Mississippi | $30,540 | 1,260 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,020 | 260 |
Best-paying metro areas for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $73,910 | 1,120 |
| New Haven, CT | $72,800 | 420 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $65,990 | 110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $65,190 | 7,350 |
| Reno, NV | $64,300 | 700 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,500 | 780 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $62,400 | 230 |
| Carson City, NV | $62,400 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,010 | 2,740 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $61,440 | 270 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $61,410 | 180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,000 | 6,820 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $60,690 | 80 |
| Bend, OR | $60,670 | 460 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $60,580 | 370 |
Metro areas with the most exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 22,970 | $53,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 16,350 | $47,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16,350 | $57,630 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 10,440 | $46,190 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,820 | $48,040 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 7,350 | $65,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 6,820 | $61,000 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 6,020 | $50,580 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,870 | $45,690 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 5,800 | $56,380 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,730 | $48,300 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,530 | $47,960 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 5,530 | $44,790 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,470 | $31,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,810 | $56,420 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $38,120 | $18.33 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-9031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make in the U.S.?
The median salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the U.S. is $47,160 a year, or $22.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the U.S. earn at least $83,100 a year. The top 25% earn $61,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,800 a year, and a quarter of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn $35,280 or less.
How many exercise trainers and group fitness instructors work in the U.S.?
About 322,930 exercise trainers and group fitness instructors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.