Whether in-home or at a fitness center, working as a personal trainer allows you to assist others in learning how to exercise safely and effectively. With the right amount of motivation, training and proper certification, you can become a part of this growing and rewarding field. Regardless of your passion for fitness, you might or might not wish to enter this field once you know the typical job duties, perks and salary of a certified personal trainer.
Training
Many certified personal trainers, or CPTs, have degrees in physical education and other fitness-related fields, while others have a background in athletics, dance or bodybuilding. While this may help to boost your resume, most fitness centers require only certification in personal training from agencies such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine or the International Sports Sciences Association. In order to qualify for these eight- to 12-month courses, however, you need to have certifications in basic first aid, CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators.
Job Description
As a personal trainer, you will typically work on a one-on-one basis either in a fitness center or in your client's home. As such, some travel may be necessary for your work. You will begin by evaluating your client's current level of fitness, then form a personalized exercise plan based on her goals and physical needs. You should have a full knowledge of different workouts, being able to model them, correct your client's technique and potentially create unique plans for those with injuries or physical limitations. As your client's needs and abilities will change over time, you must serve as a motivator and push your clients to take on different, more challenging workouts as their fitness levels improve.
Perks
If you are working on a private basis, one of the main perks of being a personal trainer is having the ability to set your own hours, rate of pay and services that you wish to provide. Despite these benefits, working independently requires you to set up your own insurance plan and may leave you liable for any injuries or health issues that arise during training. As fitness centers often provide legal coverage and generous benefits packages for full-time employees, you may wish to pursue this type of employment to minimize your risks.
Pay
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal trainers make an average of $44,030 per year. However, the amount that you earn varies with level of experience, services offered, number of clients and between different employers or clients. As such, there is a great deal of variability in this annual salary, with personal trainers making between $25,000 to over $100,000 per year. Due to the constant demand for knowledgeable, experienced fitness professionals, however, your earning potential can increase greatly over the duration of your career.
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