How much do personal trainers make?

Personal Trainer salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (SOC 39-9031) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

Personal trainers in the US earned a median of $47,160 a year ($22.67 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $35,280 to $61,730.

Median annual pay: $47,160; Mean $52,420
Median hourly pay: $22.67; Mean $25.20
Typical range (10th–90th): $28.8K–$83.1K; $28,800 to $83,100
US jobs: 322,930; +7.3% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a personal trainer: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Massachusetts

Personal Trainer pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$28,800
25th percentile$35,280
Median$47,160
75th percentile$61,730
90th percentile$83,100

Half of all personal trainers earned more than $47,160 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $28,800; the top 10% made over $83,100. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $35,280 to $61,730.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$28,800	$13.85	$2,400
25th	$35,280	$16.96	$2,940
Median (50th)	$47,160	$22.67	$3,930
75th	$61,730	$29.68	$5,144
90th	$83,100	$39.95	$6,925
Mean (average)	$52,420	$25.20	$4,368

Personal Trainer salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for personal trainers by state. Darker tiles pay more.

Highest-paying states

1. Massachusetts $64,620
2. Connecticut $61,580
3. New Jersey $59,870
4. Oregon $58,510
5. California $57,990

Lowest-paying states

51. Mississippi $30,540
50. Nebraska $31,440
49. Indiana $34,960
48. Kansas $35,900
47. Iowa $36,160

Best after cost of living: Massachusetts. Its median of $64,620 is worth about $61,102 at national-average prices.


Alabama	$39,180	41	$44,110	36	$18.84	2,680	1.27
Alaska	$46,210	22	$45,145	32	$22.22	800	2.46
Arizona	$47,980	14	$47,657	20	$23.07	7,010	2.16
Arkansas	$42,140	36	$48,472	17	$20.26	1,390	1.06
California	$57,990	5	$52,375	8	$27.88	43,600	2.39
Colorado	$49,900	10	$48,422	19	$23.99	10,500	3.65
Connecticut	$61,580	2	$59,434	2	$29.61	2,850	1.68
Delaware	$44,340	31	$44,425	34	$21.32	1,210	2.50
District of Columbia	$39,210	40	$35,678	49	$18.85	1,480	2.10
Florida	$38,800	42	$37,519	47	$18.65	18,070	1.82
Georgia	$47,150	17	$48,965	15	$22.67	7,500	1.53
Hawaii	$48,290	13	$43,920	37	$23.22	990	1.57
Idaho	$49,780	11	$52,129	9	$23.94	2,360	2.75
Illinois	$46,800	20	$46,820	25	$22.50	19,830	3.25
Indiana	$34,960	49	$37,459	48	$16.81	5,360	1.68
Iowa	$36,160	47	$41,202	42	$17.39	2,510	1.61
Kansas	$35,900	48	$39,859	45	$17.26	4,510	3.14
Kentucky	$45,280	25	$50,222	13	$21.77	1,990	1.00
Louisiana	$44,410	30	$50,347	12	$21.35	2,290	1.18
Maine	$47,060	19	$48,490	16	$22.63	1,140	1.78
Maryland	$47,420	15	$45,180	31	$22.80	8,650	3.13
Massachusetts	$64,620	1	$61,102	1	$31.07	9,200	2.53
Michigan	$45,520	24	$47,310	23	$21.88	6,050	1.37
Minnesota	$43,620	35	$44,230	35	$20.97	7,010	2.38
Mississippi	$30,540	51	$35,122	50	$14.68	1,260	1.08
Missouri	$36,450	45	$40,136	44	$17.52	5,060	1.73
Montana	$43,940	33	$46,426	27	$21.13	1,420	2.77
Nebraska	$31,440	50	$34,893	51	$15.11	2,410	2.35
Nevada	$57,960	6	$57,972	4	$27.87	3,010	1.94
New Hampshire	$49,360	12	$47,386	22	$23.73	1,500	2.19
New Jersey	$59,870	3	$55,025	6	$28.79	11,350	2.65
New Mexico	$44,680	28	$48,454	18	$21.48	1,030	1.19
New York	$47,090	18	$43,634	38	$22.64	20,140	2.08
North Carolina	$46,450	21	$49,244	14	$22.33	10,670	2.16
North Dakota	$37,760	44	$42,447	40	$18.15	680	1.57
Ohio	$36,370	46	$39,203	46	$17.49	9,040	1.63
Oklahoma	$44,520	29	$50,681	11	$21.40	2,300	1.35
Oregon	$58,510	4	$56,607	5	$28.13	4,800	2.44
Pennsylvania	$45,250	26	$46,376	28	$21.75	11,580	1.91
Rhode Island	$45,640	23	$44,623	33	$21.94	990	1.98
South Carolina	$43,630	34	$46,539	26	$20.98	5,130	2.23
South Dakota	$40,070	39	$45,233	30	$19.26	950	2.08
Tennessee	$47,380	16	$51,573	10	$22.78	5,080	1.55
Texas	$40,880	37	$42,120	41	$19.65	19,260	1.37
Utah	$44,800	27	$45,315	29	$21.54	6,830	3.93
Vermont	$57,300	7	$58,494	3	$27.55	710	2.32
Virginia	$40,820	38	$40,374	43	$19.63	12,100	2.94
Washington	$50,830	8	$47,499	21	$24.44	9,270	2.61
West Virginia	$38,120	43	$42,594	39	$18.33	500	0.72
Wisconsin	$44,200	32	$46,974	24	$21.25	6,330	2.15
Wyoming	$50,250	9	$54,212	7	$24.16	560	1.99

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for personal trainers

351 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$73,910	$69,163	1,120
New Haven, CT	$72,800	$69,626	420
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$65,990	$65,698	110
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$65,190	$60,213	7,350
Reno, NV	$64,300	$63,655	700
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$62,500	$57,986	780
Barnstable Town, MA	$62,400	$63,446	230
Carson City, NV	$62,400	$63,589	50
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$62,010	$56,157	2,740
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$61,440	$62,150	270

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	22,970	$53,580	$47,600
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	16,350	$47,680	$46,025
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	16,350	$57,630	$50,746
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	10,440	$46,190	$42,421
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	7,820	$48,040	$46,844
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	7,350	$65,190	$60,213
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	6,820	$61,000	$52,762
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	6,020	$50,580	$47,815
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	5,870	$45,690	$44,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	5,800	$56,380	$50,732

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves personal trainer pay: employers and settings

How a personal trainer is paid shapes earnings more than almost anything else. Many gym trainers earn a per-session rate or a share of the packages they sell, plus a lower hourly rate for floor time, so their income depends on how many clients they keep booked. Self-employed trainers keep more of each session but pay their own rent, insurance and marketing and have no paid time off.

Among employers, the recreation industry group that includes gyms and fitness centers pays a median of $48,110. That is about the same as local government recreation departments at $48,240. Civic and social organizations such as YMCAs pay less at $38,640. Instruction schools, a group that includes yoga, dance and martial arts studios, pay $45,350.

Location matters too. Massachusetts has the highest median, $64,620, and still leads after living costs at $61,102. Connecticut is next at $61,580, then New Jersey at $59,870, Oregon at $58,510, and California at $57,990. Mississippi is lowest at $30,540.

Pay runs from $28,800, the 10th percentile, to $83,100, the 90th. These annual figures assume full-time, year-round hours, so an instructor who teaches only a few classes a week earns well below them. Full books of repeat clients, specialties such as older adults or sports performance, and head-trainer roles push toward the top.

Where personal trainers work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	67%	$48,110
Civic and Social Organizations	9.7%	$38,640
Other Schools and Instruction	7.2%	$45,350
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals	4.4%	$48,240
Other Personal Services	3.4%	$47,420
Offices of Other Health Practitioners	1.1%	$47,470

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	305,610	$47,150
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	1,280	$48,060
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	16,040	$47,890

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

Personal Trainer pay over time

Median annual pay, 2015–2025

$47.2K $36.2K

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $36,160 in 2015 to $47,160 in 2025, up 30% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $48,881 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 4% over the period.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What personal trainers do

A personal trainer designs and coaches exercise programs for individual clients or small groups. The official occupation also covers group fitness instructors who lead classes such as indoor cycling, strength, yoga or Pilates. Trainers start by assessing a client's fitness, injuries and goals. Then they build a plan, teach each movement, watch form closely, and adjust the program as the client gets stronger or runs into problems.

Among trainers on a payroll, 67% work in the recreation industry group that includes gyms, health clubs and fitness centers. Others work at YMCAs and other civic organizations, recreation departments, yoga and martial arts schools, and in physical therapy or chiropractic offices. About 14.8% are self-employed, training clients in private studios, homes, parks or online.

The job is physical: trainers stand, demonstrate exercises, spot lifts and move equipment for much of the day. Gym trainers often also sell training packages, sign up members and cover the floor. Many work part time or split shifts, with early mornings, evenings and weekends when clients are free.

A typical day

Run first sessions that cover health history, goals, posture and basic strength and cardio tests
Write workout plans and change them as clients progress, plateau or get hurt
Demonstrate exercises, cue form and spot clients during heavy lifts
Lead group classes, giving easier and harder versions of each move
Track clients' results and check in between sessions to keep them on schedule
Sell training packages, follow up with gym members and promote yourself on social media
Keep the floor safe, wipe down and check equipment, and respond with CPR or first aid if needed

Also called: fitness trainer, fitness instructor, personal trainers, aerobics instructor, fitness specialist, group exercise instructor, group fitness instructor, private trainer.

How to become a personal trainer

Full guide

To become a personal trainer, you need a high school diploma, a current CPR/AED certificate and a personal trainer certification from a body such as ACE, ACSM, NASM or NSCA. Most people study for the certification exam in about 3 to 6 months; a degree in exercise science is optional but helps.

Typical time: 3 to 6 months (certification); 2 to 4 years with a degree; Fastest: About 3 months
Minimum education: High school diploma or equivalent, plus a personal trainer certification
License: Not licensed by states (certification expected by employers)
Typical training cost: $410–$41.4K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a personal trainer: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 3 to 6 months (certification); 2 to 4 years with a degree; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $410–$41.4K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $47,160; $3,820 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 1–88%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

The median for personal trainers is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for personal trainers

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +7.3%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 388,400; 416,900 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 68,000; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 14.8%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects fitness trainer and instructor jobs to grow from 388,400 in 2025 to 416,900 in 2035, a 7.3% rise, about twice the 3.5% rate for all occupations. That comes to about 68,000 openings a year. Most openings come from replacing people who move to other occupations or stop working, not from new jobs.

BLS points to steady gym and studio membership, employer wellness programs, efforts to fight obesity, and an aging population that wants to stay active. Yoga and Pilates, popular with older adults seeking low-impact exercise, are expected to keep growing.

Related careers and their pay

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Personal Trainer salary FAQ

How much do personal trainers make an hour?

The median hourly wage for personal trainers was $22.67 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $13.85 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $39.95. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays personal trainers the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median pay for personal trainers, $64,620 a year, followed by Connecticut ($61,580) and New Jersey ($59,870). After adjusting for each state's price level, Massachusetts comes out ahead at about $61,102 in national-average dollars.

Do personal trainers make six figures?

Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of personal trainers earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $47,160, and the top 10% earn more than $83,100. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

Do personal trainers get paid by the session?

Often, yes. Many gyms pay trainers a set rate or a percentage for each session they deliver, with a lower hourly wage for time spent on the floor, cleaning or signing up members. Trainers who build a full schedule of repeat clients earn much more than those with open slots. Self-employed trainers set their own session prices but cover their own costs.

Is personal training a full-time job?

For some trainers. BLS notes that many fitness trainers and instructors work variable or part-time schedules, and some teach classes or train clients around another job. Full-time trainers often work split days, with sessions early in the morning and again in the evening, plus weekends. Building enough clients to fill a full week usually takes time.

What is the difference between a personal trainer and a fitness instructor?

BLS counts both in one occupation. Personal trainers work one-on-one or with a few clients, assess each person and write individual programs. Group fitness instructors lead classes, either their own routines or pre-designed formats from fitness brands, and adjust moves for the whole room. Many people do both, teaching classes and taking private clients at the same gym.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 39-9031
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (39-9031.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Fitness Trainers and Instructors, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (39-9031.00), O*NET OnLine · checked October 28, 2026
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, American College of Sports Medicine · checked October 28, 2026
ACE Certified Personal Trainer Exam, American Council on Exercise · checked October 28, 2026
NASM-CPT Exam Information, National Academy of Sports Medicine · checked October 28, 2026
Certification Renewal, American Council on Exercise · checked October 28, 2026
ACSM Recertification FAQs, American College of Sports Medicine · checked October 28, 2026
NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer Exam Prerequisites, National Strength and Conditioning Association · checked October 28, 2026
How to Become a Personal Trainer, American Council on Exercise · checked October 28, 2026
Dietitians and Nutritionists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
Athletic Trainers; Physical Therapist Assistants; Physical Therapists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
ACSM Candidate Handbook (July 2025), American College of Sports Medicine · checked October 28, 2026

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