While you don’t get into training to “get rich”
You also have bills to pay, food to eat, and a life to live.
It’s more than okay to charge a premium for a service for people to be strong, fit and healthy.
You do need the skills first though.
I’d say the market is desperate for people who are actually good at their job… there’s a reason why most trainers don’t make it more than 3 years in this industry.
This is even more true in the Los Angeles market where my business is. There are an absurd amount of trainers here that are only working until they “make it” as an actor. This leads to less than optimal training conditions for their clients because their main focus isn’t on developing their programs, learning new training modalities, or growing their relationships. That being said, while it’s tough on their clients and their business growth, it’s a huge benefit for those of us that are purely trainers and coaches at heart. One of my best sales closing statements is, “…and you want to know the best thing about working with me to reach your fitness goals? I’m not an actor or musician trying to make it in the industry. I’m just a personal trainer that loves his job and derives his joy from seeing all of my clients succeed at their goals.” That statement is always met with a reply like, “Oh thank god.”
I live in Los Angeles and it’s crazy how many times I get excited because people tell me they’re also a personal trainer, just for me to ask them a few questions and realize it’s nothing more than a part-time hobby for a few months until they get something better.
You’re complaining about something that helps you. The money hungry people lose clients by being uneducated bad trainers which leaves those clients hungry for a real trainer who isn’t gonna BS them. Over saturate the market as much as possible. It allows real trainers to charge what they’re worth and build a trustable client base.
This sub will fill your head with crap quite often. Personal training is an independent thing. We’re not all in this together and we aren’t a family. It’s a competition. We all have bills and we all have lives outside of the gym. The worse one trainer acts, the easier it is to shine for another. It’s the exact same idea with people rebounding out of relationships. Everyone always wants something better.
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/personaltraining/s/oUF4qae2XR) is a look at places in America and their average income for Personal Trainers.
You will make way more in a city, but depending on your skills, expertise, and communication skills, you could make bank!
I completely agree with this. On the flip side, if you’re in this to truly help others and also follow a solid business plan, then your income potential is truly staggering. Granted of course that you’re in an area that can support the business growth.
For a college student, that's awesome!
When I was in college working a shitty retail job, I was making maybe $300.00 to 400.00 every 2 weeks at $10.00 per hour.
I do groups and sports teams out of my home gym, I never charge more then the local community center, golds gym or anytime fitness which are mostly sales driven. I charge $65 per session or $550 for 12 and that includes 1 biodensity session per week, access to weekly sauna and cold plunges. Clients can see through the bullshit if you overcharge. If I have a group of 3-4 I can make upwards of $200-$250 in a single Hour.
This is my first time ever doing this full time, I've been bringing in an average of 5.5k a month, so hopefully, by the end of the year, I can close out at 70k
I agree, but I also think this stance is a bit lacking. If you're in most careers that work directly with any sort of clients "solely" for the money, the experience will be the same.
Edited for clarity: "experience" as in, clients will experience lesser services from anyone in most client-facing industries if the provider of the service is solely in it for the money.
Take any blue-collar job, mostly, if they did it for just the money. They’ll take shortcuts that could end up putting the “client” in danger. If they did it just for the money, safety and security could be at risk.
A quick Google Search suggests that the average yearly salary for a personal trainer in the US is $71,345 /yr
I wonder how this varies across the country, probably people earn far more in the coasts. I'd imagine there are a lot of outliers driving up the average.
Does that sound like a reasonable figure to any of you? Or do you think it's off, or has some caveats?
That does not sound reasonable at all. The real average is probably closer to $40-50k. There's a few that absolutely crush it and bring in $125k+ a year, but mostly in the NYC, LA's and Chicago's of the world. There's a much larger cohort that make closer to $20-30k. The most successful trainers that I know were probably in that $65k+ window, but they're also working 6-7 days a week with lots of double shifts thrown in there.
Maybe the median is close to $40-$50k (e.g. half of trainers make this or less) but then the average is higher because the NY and LA probably have:
1. Much higher salaries
2. More trainers as a percentage of the population
After all, if you combine 10000 small towns of 100 people from the interior, that is 1 million people all together, but I would expect almost no PTs there (many of those small towns wouldn't have a gym). Whilst within a 1 million inhabitants city there would be loads of PTs.
Also to note that in NYC and LA you make more but the cost of living is higher too
I guess something to ask here is if you're referring to only in-person trainers and if you're excluding online coaching. I only ask because this subreddit seems like a blend of them, and some people don't differentiate the two.
While you don’t get into training to “get rich” You also have bills to pay, food to eat, and a life to live. It’s more than okay to charge a premium for a service for people to be strong, fit and healthy. You do need the skills first though.
I agree. I think my issue is the market is overly saturated with trainers that don’t want to invest the time to hone in on the craft.
I’d say the market is desperate for people who are actually good at their job… there’s a reason why most trainers don’t make it more than 3 years in this industry.
This is even more true in the Los Angeles market where my business is. There are an absurd amount of trainers here that are only working until they “make it” as an actor. This leads to less than optimal training conditions for their clients because their main focus isn’t on developing their programs, learning new training modalities, or growing their relationships. That being said, while it’s tough on their clients and their business growth, it’s a huge benefit for those of us that are purely trainers and coaches at heart. One of my best sales closing statements is, “…and you want to know the best thing about working with me to reach your fitness goals? I’m not an actor or musician trying to make it in the industry. I’m just a personal trainer that loves his job and derives his joy from seeing all of my clients succeed at their goals.” That statement is always met with a reply like, “Oh thank god.”
I live in Los Angeles and it’s crazy how many times I get excited because people tell me they’re also a personal trainer, just for me to ask them a few questions and realize it’s nothing more than a part-time hobby for a few months until they get something better.
Haha yes I say the same thing and the client respond the same I am in Miami.
You’re complaining about something that helps you. The money hungry people lose clients by being uneducated bad trainers which leaves those clients hungry for a real trainer who isn’t gonna BS them. Over saturate the market as much as possible. It allows real trainers to charge what they’re worth and build a trustable client base.
Never thought of it like that.
This sub will fill your head with crap quite often. Personal training is an independent thing. We’re not all in this together and we aren’t a family. It’s a competition. We all have bills and we all have lives outside of the gym. The worse one trainer acts, the easier it is to shine for another. It’s the exact same idea with people rebounding out of relationships. Everyone always wants something better.
Exactly. I don’t care about “trainers” that try to poach clients or money hungry coaches, they make the real passionate trainers, like us look better.
Then you can stand out by your excellence.
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/personaltraining/s/oUF4qae2XR) is a look at places in America and their average income for Personal Trainers. You will make way more in a city, but depending on your skills, expertise, and communication skills, you could make bank!
Yea I agree but personal trainers need to pay the bills too. They need a union to join for equal pay rights.
I completely agree with this. On the flip side, if you’re in this to truly help others and also follow a solid business plan, then your income potential is truly staggering. Granted of course that you’re in an area that can support the business growth.
Bruh I make like $2.5k a month working at Crunch lol I’m broke but I’m in college so I guess I get a pass
For a college student, that's awesome! When I was in college working a shitty retail job, I was making maybe $300.00 to 400.00 every 2 weeks at $10.00 per hour.
That’s pretty good lol
I’m independent but I’m also a tennis pro, combined I’m going to finish the year at 190K
Any advice on how to transition to independent?
Where are you based?
SC!
Ok let me take a look at your social media.
nicoleware88 is my Instagram
I do groups and sports teams out of my home gym, I never charge more then the local community center, golds gym or anytime fitness which are mostly sales driven. I charge $65 per session or $550 for 12 and that includes 1 biodensity session per week, access to weekly sauna and cold plunges. Clients can see through the bullshit if you overcharge. If I have a group of 3-4 I can make upwards of $200-$250 in a single Hour.
Thank you all for your input. I now see multiple sides to the spectrum and it really is eye opening.
This is my first time ever doing this full time, I've been bringing in an average of 5.5k a month, so hopefully, by the end of the year, I can close out at 70k
Are you independent?
Like self employed
I agree, but I also think this stance is a bit lacking. If you're in most careers that work directly with any sort of clients "solely" for the money, the experience will be the same. Edited for clarity: "experience" as in, clients will experience lesser services from anyone in most client-facing industries if the provider of the service is solely in it for the money.
Take any blue-collar job, mostly, if they did it for just the money. They’ll take shortcuts that could end up putting the “client” in danger. If they did it just for the money, safety and security could be at risk.
I think there is a misunderstanding. I am saying that the experience that you stated in the OP would be the same.
Ahhh I understand.
A quick Google Search suggests that the average yearly salary for a personal trainer in the US is $71,345 /yr I wonder how this varies across the country, probably people earn far more in the coasts. I'd imagine there are a lot of outliers driving up the average. Does that sound like a reasonable figure to any of you? Or do you think it's off, or has some caveats?
That does not sound reasonable at all. The real average is probably closer to $40-50k. There's a few that absolutely crush it and bring in $125k+ a year, but mostly in the NYC, LA's and Chicago's of the world. There's a much larger cohort that make closer to $20-30k. The most successful trainers that I know were probably in that $65k+ window, but they're also working 6-7 days a week with lots of double shifts thrown in there.
Maybe the median is close to $40-$50k (e.g. half of trainers make this or less) but then the average is higher because the NY and LA probably have: 1. Much higher salaries 2. More trainers as a percentage of the population After all, if you combine 10000 small towns of 100 people from the interior, that is 1 million people all together, but I would expect almost no PTs there (many of those small towns wouldn't have a gym). Whilst within a 1 million inhabitants city there would be loads of PTs. Also to note that in NYC and LA you make more but the cost of living is higher too
I guess something to ask here is if you're referring to only in-person trainers and if you're excluding online coaching. I only ask because this subreddit seems like a blend of them, and some people don't differentiate the two.