Certified Personal Trainer Salary

If you are considering a career in the health and fitness industry, one of your first questions will be regarding the certified personal trainer salary.  While it would be nice to give you a definitive answer, it simply isn’t possible.  Several variables determine your potential income as a trainer.

On average, some suggest that the certified personal trainer salary is somewhere between 34-48 thousand dollars per year.  But, it really depends on:

• Where you work
• If you work for someone else
• Your certifications
• Your personal effort

Your certified personal trainer salary may be much more, or less, than the trainer you working alongside you every day.  You ultimately decide your own level of success, by how you approach these key factors to your earning power.

Where you Work

The demographics of your area will be a huge determining factor, when it comes to your salary.   If you work at a high end club that is part of a chain of fitness facilities, you are likely to make more than if you work at a small club, in a small town.

If the club, spa, cruise liner, or other health facility is always busy with clients, then you will have the opportunity to earn more.  If there are hours when you have too much time to twiddle your thumbs, then your salary will suffer.

The Boss

If you are the boss of a fitness facility, you will make more money than the certified personal trainers.  However, as management, you will likely have to give up being on the floor and actually working with the clients.  Your job is to manage the business and keep everyone else motivated.  But, you will also get a high percentage of all the monies earned by your employees.

When you are the employee, your salary will depend on what the boss charges the clients.  Then, you will get a percentage of that fee.  In general, you will receive less than half.  A 40/60 split is an example.  During the slow times, when you aren’t working with the clients on the floor, you will probably only earn minimum wage.  The more customers that request your training, the more you make.

Depending on the management, you may work on commission.  If you are really good at what you do, your boss might also offer bonuses.  The more business you bring in, the better you get paid.

Certifications

If you just passed your personal training exam, and you only have one certification, you will probably not make as much as the individual that has several. Some managers pay totally on a percentage basis.  For example, if you have one certification, you will receive 30% of the fee your clients have to pay.  However, that percentage increases by 5% for every certification you have.  So, if you have at least 4 different certifications, you will pocket 45% of the fee.

In order to determine the certified personal trainer salary, you will need to ask around.  Check with all the businesses that may potentially hire you, after achieving your education.  See how their pay scales are set up.  Then, pull out a calculator and do a little math. You can get some idea of your earning potential.

Your Effort

Regardless of the other key elements of the certified personal trainer salary, the biggest factor is your own personal effort.  If you are a mediocre trainer, you will make a mediocre paycheck.  If you excel in your career, you income will naturally increase.

Generally, you income depends on your clientele.  If you are an excellent personal trainer, customers will ask for your services.  When you start turning people away, because your schedule is packed, the fee for your services will increase.

As an excellent personal trainer, you may have the opportunity to work with clients off-site.  Because they are paying for your individualized attention, and asking you to come to them, you can set your own fee.  People will pay for your expertise, because they get their money’s worth.  You might charge anywhere from $75-$250 per hour.  Of course, if you work for a celebrity, you should find out what the going rate is for working with the rich and famous.

In summary, there is no definitive answer, when it comes to certified personal trainer salary.  What you will/will not make depends largely on your effort.  The trainers that make the big bucks are the individuals that continuing learning and gaining certifications, while going the extra mile in providing services for their growing clientele.  Of course, if you work for someone else, it will also depend on the established pay scale, and the demographics of the health facility.  But, you are the key to your own success as a personal trainer.