Fitness centers and fitness clubs employ several types of professionals who enable those organizations to offer a wide range of services to their members. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association estimates that in 2009, 45.3 million Americans had a membership in one of the 29,750 health clubs in the United States.
Personal Trainers
Fitness clubs employ personal trainers to work one-on-one with their members to design individualized exercise, nutrition and lifestyle programs. Fitness clubs generally offer one or two meetings with a trainer when a person joins the club and charge hourly rates for services beyond the initial consultation. There is no standard criteria for being a personal trainer, though the American Council on Exercise offers the industry's most popular certification program. About 50,000 personal trainers in the United States are ACE-certified. A 2010 survey of ACE members found that personal trainers earn an average of $53,323 a year.
Fitness Instructors
Aerobics, indoor cycling and boot camp classes are all examples of group fitness programs available at health clubs. Group fitness instructors lead classes and possess the skills to lead and teach outside of the one-on-one or small group dynamic. ACE also certifies group fitness professionals, who earn an average of $47,659 annually. The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America offers certification programs for various group programs, including kickboxing and step aerobics.
Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant
Lifestyle and weight management consultants are not nutritionists or behaviorists, but they play a crucial role in physical fitness. While trainers and instructors help you sweat off the calories, these specialists work on the life changes necessary to keep the weight off. ACE-certified consultants have demonstrated their knowledge of the psychology behind eating and weight, the relationship between food and exercise and strategies for making lifestyle changes and healthy choices. ACE says a full-time consultant makes, on average, $55,771 a year.
Athletic Trainers
Most fitness clubs provide first-aid and CPR training to their staff. However, for injury prevention or rehabilitation, sports medicine may be prescribed. According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association, athletic trainers are state-licensed, college-educated professionals who can diagnose and treat injuries as well as provide rehabilitation.
References
- International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association: U.S. Health Club Industry Records Solid Performance in 2009
- American Council on Exercise: ACE’s 2010 Fitness Salary Survey Results
- American Council on Exercise: Group Fitness Instructor Certification
- American Council on Exercise: Personal Trainer Certification
- National Athletic Trainers' Association: Athletic Trainers vs Personal Trainers
- U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fitness Workers Occupational Outlook (2010-11)
Member Comments