Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary in Merced, CA
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $45,890 a year ($22.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,770 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $47,160. Pay here is 21% lower than the California statewide median of $57,990. There are 0.93 exercise trainers and group fitness instructors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $48,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Median | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| 75th percentile | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| Average (mean) | $48,480 | $23.31 |
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 | $3,824.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,912.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,765 |
| Weekly | $882.50 |
| Hourly | $22.06 |
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 in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,500 | 780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,010 | 2,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,000 | 6,820 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $60,690 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $60,580 | 370 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,910 | 330 |
| Yuba City, CA | $59,810 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,720 | 370 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $59,300 | 620 |
| Napa, CA | $58,590 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,630 | 16,350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $57,230 | 860 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,420 | 4,810 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $55,010 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,130 | 530 |
| Redding, CA | $52,000 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,240 | 2,550 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,860 | 400 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,450 | 2,700 |
| Modesto, CA | $48,160 | 270 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,050 | 360 |
| Chico, CA | $46,790 | 220 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,770 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 |
| Oregon | $58,510 |
| California | $57,990 |
| Nevada | $57,960 |
| Vermont | $57,300 |
| Washington | $50,830 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 |
| Colorado | $49,900 |
See Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Residential Advisor | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,600 | $17.12 |
| Animal Caretaker | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $44,980 | $21.63 |
More: Personal Care and Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the Merced, CA metro area is $45,890 a year, or $22.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $70,770 a year. The top 25% earn $57,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,090 a year, and a quarter of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn $37,440 or less.
How many exercise trainers and group fitness instructors work in Merced, CA?
About 70 exercise trainers and group fitness instructors are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.