With the right skill and know-how, personal training can be a lucrative and fulfilling venture. While your income potential will vary depending on your specialty, experience, and location, we’ve put together a guide on what you can expect to make with your own personal training business. 

How Much Do Personal Trainers Make? A Complete Guide

So how much do personal trainers make? The answer is that it depends. The type of fitness training you do, as well as where you do business, will influence your certified personal trainer salary. This article will cover the average personal trainer incomes by type, along with several ways to maximize earnings as a fitness trainer.

4 Types Of Personal Trainers And Potential Incomes

Once you learn how to be a personal trainer, your expertise is just one of many factors that will impact your income potential. Below, we dive into a few different personal training types and what you can expect to make in each one. 

1. Private Trainer

A private personal trainer is someone who works one-on-one with fitness clients outside of a commercial setting. Independent trainers provide services to their clients without needing to pay a percentage to a gym or fitness studio. (Although in some cases, private trainers can rent out space at a gym for a fee). Private trainers can also set their own rates and schedules, and take complete control over their business structure. Since independent trainers are only beholden to themselves, their income potential can be higher than those contracted by a gym. 

Independent trainers often charge by the hour or per session, and rates can range (on average) between $30-$150 depending on experience and location. Those just starting out in a highly competitive market may earn even less, at around $15-$25 an hour. But those with tons of experience and an expansive client base can charge hundreds of dollars per session. 

According to Indeed, the average personal trainer salary in the United States for 2024 is $46,908/year ($28.98/hour). 

2. Specialty Trainers

The more background and training you have, the more valuable your services become. Trainers with additional certifications for sports conditioning, weight loss, or nutrition can charge more for their comprehensive and specialized services. 

Fitness trainers who specialize in senior exercise can make about $49/hour, which can average to over $115,000/year. 

Those who specialize in nutrition can make an average of approximately $54,137/year ($26.03/hour), though according to other data, the average can run as high as $76,579/year. 

3. Commercial Trainers

Commercial trainers are essentially freelance instructors who work out of gyms, fitness studios, or other wellness centers. This type of fitness coaching is subject to commission rates that vary by gym. For instance, if your gym charges $100 per training session and pays a 60% commission rate, you would earn $60 for your time. 

Some gyms may even increase your commission rate depending on how much revenue you bring in. Commercial training is how many fitness trainers start out before establishing their own business—though there is no “right” path for any one trainer to follow. 

A gym may also offer personal trainers an annual salary. Facilities like Equinox offer an earning potential for personal trainers of up to $100,000 (though this salary may include duties that go beyond personal training). 

4. Virtual Trainers

Online personal training is still growing in popularity. While the biggest boom was seen during Covid-19, many personal trainers and clients prefer to conduct their sessions in the virtual space due to convenience. Some fitness coaches even incorporate a hybrid format, offering both in-person and online training. 

According to ZipRecruiter, online personal trainers in 2024 can earn around $61,014/year ($29.33/hour)—an increase from PTDC’s cited 2023 average of $52,518/year. Online training lets fitness instructors handle more clients in less time, and without the cost of studio rent or equipment for clients. 

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What Is The Average Personal Trainer Salary?

In May 2023, the median annual wage for personal trainers in the United States was $46,480, working out to an average of $22.35 per hour. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, “the lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,840, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,740.” 

• Government: $47,730
• Fitness and recreational sports centers: $47,670
• Educational services; state, local, and private: $39,940
• Civic and social organizations: $36,250

How Does A Personal Trainer's Income Vary According To Its Location?

A certified personal trainer salary in a large, metropolitan area will not be the same as the trainer salary in a small town. In some cases, personal trainers in certain metropolitan areas can make at least $10,000-$20,000 more than those who work in non-city locations (though this is not guaranteed). 

Below are the top 5 highest fitness trainer salary averages by state: 

• New Jersey: $66,970/year ($32.20/hour)
• New York: $65,370/year ($31.43/hour)
• Connecticut: $64,600/year ($31.06/hour)
• Vermont: $62,720/year ($30.16/hour)
• California: $61,340/year ($29.49/hour)

For comparison, the average for a fitness trainer salary in Northern New York, outside of the metropolitan area, is around $57,880/year, or $27.83/hour. In an area like Southwest Montana, the average personal trainer income falls to around $42,190 ($20.29/hour). 

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5 Ways To Boost Your Income As A Personal Trainer

Once you’ve learned how to be a personal trainer, it’s time to put your training and skills to use. 

1. Market Your Business

Marketing your business is the best way to recruit new clients and boost your income. Building your own website, using social media platforms, or taking advantage of software like GlossGenius can help you sell your services and spread the word about your fitness coaching.  

2. Get Your Certifications

Additional certifications means more experience and expertise. If you want to expand your range of clientele and the services you provide, it may be worth looking into extra certifications for strength coaching, nutrition, or elderly fitness. 

The National Strength and Conditioning Association - Certified Personal Trainer certification (NSCA-CPT) is just one of several certifications you can get that will increase your earning potential. According to a salary survey by the NSCA, average salaries in 2022 ranged around $60,000-$85,000 for those with the certification. 

3. Try Group Sessions

Some clients may be priced out of your services, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely out of luck. Offering group fitness sessions or boot camps can help those interested in your training participate in your workout classes without having to shell out for private training. And who knows—if they really love their workout with you, they may commit to being a client after all. Regardless, a group class can still be a win/win for you by helping you reach more clients without sacrificing your own income. 

4. Offer Bundled Packages

Offering packages or bundled services at discounted rates can also help boost your income potential. Clients may not be willing to pay $100 per session, but if you offer a package like $850 for 10 sessions, that works out to around $85 a session, which might be more palatable for clients on a budget. A wisely discounted rate is better than nothing at all! 

If you have the certifications, you can also bundle services like nutrition coaching to your sessions for an added fee. 

5. Implement Auto Payments

Using payment processing software that offers auto-payments can keep your income flowing without having to reach out to clients about missed or late payments. Taking auto-payments can also decrease the chances clients will miss or cancel their workout sessions. 

GlossGenius offers Point of Sale hardware that accepts a number of different payment methods, all with one flat rate of 2.6%.

Scale Your Personal Training Business with GlossGenius

Before you embark on your personal trainer journey, it’s worth it to research the income potential in the state you plan to do business. By understanding the market and value of your services, you can better tailor your business for growth and success. 

GlossGenius is the ideal partner for personal trainers who want to expand their business. With features like Online Booking, Client Notifications, Marketing, Loans, and No-Show Protection, GlossGenius can help you streamline a variety of different branches of your business to ensure each day runs as smoothly as last.