How Much Does A Personal Trainer Make in 2024? (Answered)

In the last decade, the fitness industry has been gaining more traction than ever.

As more and more people strive to become personal trainers, setting realistic expectations is crucial. Many choose to start training others in order to have a positive impact on people’s lives. However, making a living is also an important factor to consider. So, how much does a personal trainer make? And how can you make sure you stay ahead of the curve? 

A good way to maximize a personal trainer’s salary is to first establish a goal. Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? Having a career path in mind makes it easier to stick to the plan. Certified personal trainers have many different possible career paths, but you should choose the one that best suits you.

Are you planning on owning your gym or fitness studio? Or do you aim to work for a specific gym chain? These choices all impact how much personal trainers make, so it’s essential to weigh out each route carefully.

Do Personal Trainers Make Good Money?

Although money doesn’t have to be your primary motivating factor, the question of how much does a personal trainer earn certainly did pop into your head on at least one occasion.

Some personal trainers make upwards of six figures a year. Usually, they own a gym or studio where clients pay top dollar for the training and facilities.

While this might be a dream option, it isn’t the only way to succeed in the industry. Understanding all the different ways to make money as a personal trainer will help you choose the path that’s right for you. 

So, the short answer is yes; personal trainers can make good incomes, especially when they have their own clients.

When deciding what to charge, it’s helpful to know the usual industry salary and wages. Such information can also reveal whether this particular career is a viable option.

The personal training industry has several different categories. These include

• Commercial gym trainers 
• Independent trainers
• Private trainers

In this article, we will cover each of them individually. But first, here are some useful statistics related to personal trainer salaries.

Personal Trainer Income Statistics

There are several statistics to refer to for research purposes. Here are some to help you get a better idea of the personal trainer’s average salary:

• According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a personal trainer is $61,005 as of 2024.
• ZipRecruiter suggested that as of June 18th, 2024, the average was $61,014 based on their information.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the median pay for 2023 was $46,480.

However, the top 10% of full-time personal trainers make around $100,000 a year. These numbers also change depending on what type of personal trainer you are. 

The NDSM classifies personal trainers into three types, along with their average salaries.

• Gym Employed -$34,000
• Independent -$62,000
• Private – $78,000

While these are all great numbers, you may still be wondering – how much do beginner personal trainers make? Those who are just starting out can expect to get around $15 to $20 per hour. Like any other industry, you will need to gain some experience before advancing your career.

Fitness industry billing norms

Usually, personal trainers charge per hour or per session. A typical lesson will last an hour.

Some clients, such as athletes, will require personal training a few hours a day, several days a week. So, you should bill accordingly.

Many personal trainers increase their fees during peak hours, which include early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Focusing on repeat clients and peak times will maximize possible profits.

Build your own business

Every personal trainer is responsible for building their own business. Even if you work in a well-known gym chain, retaining the clients you get is up to you.

By working harder and smarter, it’s possible to increase the money earned.

The most successful trainers have dedicated tremendous effort to their business. And be sure this hard work pays off when it comes to earning a robust salary.

Common Personal Trainer Pay Structures

Outlined below are the three common personal trainer pay structures.

Commercial gyms

Being employed at a fitness facility means that the client pays for the fitness center membership and your sessions. The gym then pays your salary.

This pay structure has three separate ways for personal trainers to earn money:

• From sales commissions
• From each finished session. For this, you can use a pay stub to help you moderate the process
• Bonuses for meeting quotas during a set pay period

These performance incentives are the main benefit of working at a large health club.

Gyms charge roughly $50 per session, with each session being 45 minutes or an hour long. 

Some gyms have dedicated sales staff who bring in new clients and assign them to the available trainers.

In other cases, the trainer is responsible for selling their sessions. They will usually earn an additional sales commission for doing so. A personal trainer in this kind of structure can also expect to receive bonuses for reaching client sign-up goals.

Being employed at a gym is the most reliable pay structure. It includes a W2 employment form and the usual basic employment benefits. However, this structure offers the lowest possible earnings of the three.

Corporate gyms

Personal trainers often start their careers at large chain gyms such as Gold’s Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, and L.A. Fitness.

These businesses have lots of equipment and many members that require personal training.

The downside is that the personal trainer can only expect to see 30% to 60% of their earnings. So, if a trainer sells ten sessions for $599, the gym will keep $419, and the trainer will only receive $179.

However, not all gyms are the same, and many of them offer a tiered system. For example, if you have ten sessions a week, you will get a 30% commission, but if you have more, the commission increases.  

Smaller gyms

Another option is independently owned gyms. Places such as Anytime Fitness, Fitness 19, Joe’s Gym, and others.

Smaller gyms have fewer clients and less equipment than corporate gyms, so personal trainers in these locations must market themselves well. Finding clients will take more work, but the trainer will keep 60-70% of the sales from each training session. 

While these gyms are much smaller than commercial gyms, membership and rates are much higher. So, even though there are fewer clients, you may be able to earn more.

Challenges of the Traditional Gym Models

With the traditional gym model, only completed sessions generate an income. This motivates fitness centers to ensure that the clients use as many sessions as possible. However, no-shows are still a big problem. 

Many clubs give personal trainers bonuses for performing a minimum number of sessions. Either monthly or quarterly.

A newer model that has become popular recently is a subscription-based service. Customers choose the number of sessions they would like per month and pay a rate based on that number.

This means more consistent income for the facility. Yet, clients must make sure to use every scheduled session to fully utilize their subscriptions. But, even if they don’t, gym owners and personal trainers are not losing revenue because of it.

Independent Personal Trainers

Not all personal trainers prefer to be confined to a club. Many prefer to offer their services to clients themselves.

This is a large developing market for certified personal trainers. It means the trainer is self-employed, owning and running their own business. 

These trainers can set their own working hours and can charge what they want.

On the other hand, all marketing is their responsibility, as well as business name, logo, website, and more. If you choose this route, expect a big workload, but you will get to keep 100% of every sale.

Being an independent personal trainer requires a thorough knowledge of supply and demand, specifically of the local market area.

Try answering these questions:

• How many fitness clubs and private studios are in the area?
• What demographics make up the market? What is the fitness reach in the community?
• How can you improve it?
• How can you stand out?

Being employed by a large fitness company can offer good money. However, there is almost no limit to how much money an independent personal trainer can make in this industry.

Based on all these statistics, experienced personal trainers can expect to make anywhere from $50-$100 depending on their area. However, without a well-established gym to rely on, there is no guarantee that their income will be stable. That’s why taking the time to learn as much as possible about marketing yourself as a personal trainer is the cornerstone of a successful business.

In fact, income is entirely based on marketing and retention of long-term clients. One alternative is to rent space from a nearby gym, though this is becoming rare. With this arrangement, the gym receives roughly 10% of the personal trainer’s earnings.

1099 Personal Trainer Contract Structure

Another option is to combine being an employed trainer with being an independent one. Instead of the W2 form, independent contractors receive a 1099 tax form.

In this arrangement, the gym does not employ personal trainers, but contracts work for them. This is beneficial for the gym because they avoid the costs that come from having employees. This model is like hiring a handyman to fix a broken sink. You pay them for their service, but they are not your employee.

If you decide to become an independent contractor, you can earn much more than from being a regular employee because you don’t have to be tied to just one gym. But contractors have more expenses. They also need to handle their own taxes, marketing, and rent.

A 50/50 split between the personal trainer and the facility is also common in this case. If the client pays $70 per session, the trainer and the gym would get $35. But this can be negotiated, so be sure to voice out your terms.

Pros:

• Higher potential earnings
• Flexible schedule, procedures, and dress code
• Smaller workplace setting

Cons:

• Less stable income
• No group classes, floor hours, or substitutions
• Responsible for taxes, insurance, and other paperwork
• More marketing and networking is required

An independent contractor lacks the support that a large business brings. There is less help marketing, less foot traffic, and possibly fewer sales. However, there is more freedom and a higher potential earning, so you will need to weigh the pros and cons to ensure this is the right path for you.

Private Personal Trainer

Private personal trainers are the highest earners in their industry.

Personal trainers may make as little as minimum wage or upwards of $75 an hour if they work at prestigious gyms. Private personal trainers, on the other hand, charge around $100 an hour or even more.

A successful private personal trainer can make upwards of $70,000 a year.

This higher earning potential is because private personal trainers set their own rates.

They are self-employed and can create their own schedules. Private personal trainers even work with celebrities, professional athletes, and actors, drawing in large salaries that include 401k, medical, dental, and disability benefits.

But being a private personal trainer has its downsides. They won’t receive help from a facility or have clients funneled to them. They must network, make sales, and market themselves well. While being employed gives you a steady income, choosing to go independently gives you the freedom a lot of trainers strive to have.

Ending Thoughts on How Much Does a Personal Trainer Make

Anyone hoping to get into the personal training field has a lot to learn and many decisions to make. The information in this article will help you to know how best to advance your career.

Personal trainers can make a six-figure income. That requires specific urban markets and a huge investment of effort, education, and time.

No matter the career path, it’s vital to balance short and long-term goals.

It’s best to focus on safe and effective fitness programs. This will have a positive impact on any fitness career or business.

A client’s results will be what markets the business. So a trainer’s salary will depend on the quality of their work and level of business savvy.

Putting in the time and effort will increase your business and fitness training skills. Those skills in turn will fuel the success of the business.

Be creative when expanding the business. Offer incentives to clients who bring referrals.

Be memorable. Practice what you preach and apply the advice given to clients.

Personal trainers are all about motivation, so make sure to stay motivated. Your attitude will impact your business growth.