Getting Fit With a New Job

Is improving your fitness atop your list of MUSTS for 2011?  Are you considering a job change?  If you are active and enjoy people, becoming a personal trainer could be right up your alley.  By getting serious about your own fitness, you can not only get into the best shape of your life, but you can create a financially successful job and career path that is sustainable and rewarding all in the same breath.  Here’s a quick checklist when deciding the how and why to be a personal trainer and researching a personal trainer salary:

   1. Decide if you have what it takes
         * does your personality and work ethic match the job requirements?
   2. Chose a certification
         * what levels and areas will you be certified?  
   3. Chose a specialty
         * how will you differentiate yourself?
   4. Get a job at a club or gym
         * its the fastest way to get plugged into your local health and fitness scene
   5. Setting up your own business clientele
         * register your business entity, name, legalities, business cards and even a website
   6. Marketing yourself
         * utilize free marketing tools of social networks, online forums and Google listings
   7. Improving your skills and education
         * continue to hone your skills, teaching and A.B.L - Always Be Learning
   8. Become indispensable to your clientele    
         * work, talent, skill, experience all = hustle your butt off -- be your clients “rock”
   9. Other areas of business besides a club or gym
         * corporate fitness, cruises, resorts, spas, and online training are just a few options of additional business channels
  10. Additional work beyond personal training
         * consulting, fitness writing, athletic coaching, group fitness and maybe one day your own gym -- all options of expanding your business past personal training.

Need more proof?  Let’s check the financials.  According to Payscale, the national averages for personal trainers is $12.04-$24.54 hourly and $24,393-49.958 annually.  Furthermore, the national pay data shows that leaving the gym behind and going into business for yourself can boost your income significantly!  Still not convinced?  Let’s compare the fitness and personal trainer world with two very common occupations:

Waiter/Waitress $12,937-$28,183        Personal Trainer $26,258-$58,346

Sales Associate $17,828-$39,237        Director, Fitness Club $33,332-$52,070

The lowest salaried personal trainer makes as much as the highest paid waiter/waitress!  And the high end director of a fitness club makes almost $13,000 more than the highest paid sales associate!  How much does that personal trainer I see at the gym make?  Is that something I could do?  Hopefully we’ve answered both of those questions for you now!

Personal Trainer Salary Snapshot powered by NFPT