Best degree programs for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, ranked by enrollment
5 college programs and 1,102 schools train Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $47,160 median wage, 322,930 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
5 college programs at 1,102 schools train exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, graduating 40,211 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. The job pays a median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
5 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 31.0504 | 18,633 | 46.3% | 666 | $30,426 | $25,643 |
| 2 | CIP 31.0501 | 12,973 | 32.3% | 370 | $30,426 | $25,643 |
| 3 | CIP 13.1314 | 7,066 | 17.6% | 415 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 4 | CIP 31.0507 | 1,451 | 3.6% | 118 | $30,426 | $25,643 |
| 5 | Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapymain feeder CIP 51.3602 | 88 | 0.2% | 11 | $23,384 | $13,007 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $57,990 | 43,600 | 1.15× | 109 | 7,058 |
| Texas | $40,880 | 19,260 | 0.66× | 68 | 2,321 |
| New York | $47,090 | 20,140 | 1.00× | 57 | 2,232 |
| Ohio | $36,370 | 9,040 | 0.78× | 55 | 1,867 |
| Florida | $38,800 | 18,070 | 0.88× | 32 | 1,709 |
| North Carolina | $46,450 | 10,670 | 1.04× | 37 | 1,604 |
| Virginia | $40,820 | 12,100 | 1.42× | 20 | 1,335 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | 2,290 | 0.57× | 12 | 1,174 |
| Tennessee | $47,380 | 5,080 | 0.75× | 27 | 1,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,250 | 11,580 | 0.92× | 45 | 1,100 |
| Illinois | $46,800 | 19,830 | 1.57× | 37 | 1,054 |
| Georgia | $47,150 | 7,500 | 0.74× | 26 | 1,049 |
| Michigan | $45,520 | 6,050 | 0.66× | 35 | 1,017 |
| South Carolina | $43,630 | 5,130 | 1.07× | 23 | 975 |
| Oklahoma | $44,520 | 2,300 | 0.65× | 28 | 951 |
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | 9,200 | 1.22× | 25 | 939 |
| Kentucky | $45,280 | 1,990 | 0.48× | 19 | 883 |
| Iowa | $36,160 | 2,510 | 0.77× | 21 | 805 |
| Kansas | $35,900 | 4,510 | 1.51× | 28 | 802 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | 500 | 0.34× | 10 | 733 |
| Alabama | $39,180 | 2,680 | 0.61× | 20 | 697 |
| Mississippi | $30,540 | 1,260 | 0.52× | 18 | 662 |
| Missouri | $36,450 | 5,060 | 0.83× | 27 | 643 |
| Minnesota | $43,620 | 7,010 | 1.14× | 33 | 559 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | 7,010 | 1.04× | 17 | 551 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 | 6,330 | 1.04× | 23 | 550 |
| Indiana | $34,960 | 5,360 | 0.81× | 24 | 545 |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | 11,350 | 1.28× | 21 | 499 |
| Utah | $44,800 | 6,830 | 1.89× | 10 | 473 |
| Arkansas | $42,140 | 1,390 | 0.51× | 17 | 451 |
| New Hampshire | $49,360 | 1,500 | 1.06× | 9 | 404 |
| Maryland | $47,420 | 8,650 | 1.51× | 13 | 350 |
| District of Columbia | $39,210 | 1,480 | 1.01× | 5 | 321 |
| Washington | $50,830 | 9,270 | 1.26× | 9 | 317 |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | 2,850 | 0.81× | 14 | 316 |
| Nebraska | $31,440 | 2,410 | 1.13× | 14 | 285 |
| Oregon | $58,510 | 4,800 | 1.17× | 13 | 252 |
| North Dakota | $37,760 | 680 | 0.76× | 11 | 185 |
| Colorado | $49,900 | 10,500 | 1.76× | 12 | 160 |
| Idaho | $49,780 | 2,360 | 1.32× | 7 | 154 |
| New Mexico | $44,680 | 1,030 | 0.57× | 7 | 144 |
| Delawaremoderate | $44,340 | 1,210 | 1.21× | 4 | 137 |
| Maine | $47,060 | 1,140 | 0.86× | 6 | 136 |
| South Dakota | $40,070 | 950 | 1.00× | 6 | 122 |
| Vermontmoderate | $57,300 | 710 | 1.12× | 3 | 104 |
| Montana | $43,940 | 1,420 | 1.33× | 7 | 82 |
| Rhode Island | $45,640 | 990 | 0.95× | 6 | 54 |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | 560 | 0.96× | 5 | 24 |
| Hawaiilimited | $48,290 | 990 | 0.76× | 2 | 20 |
| Nevadalimited | $57,960 | 3,010 | 0.93× | 2 | 3 |
| Alaskalimited | $46,210 | 800 | 1.18× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
- Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
- Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
- Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
- Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
- Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
- Teach and demonstrate use of gymnastic and training equipment, such as trampolines and weights.
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
Skills
- Speaking3.6
- Active Listening3.3
- Learning Strategies3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.6
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3
- Education and Training3.8
- English Language3.7
- Psychology3.6
- Biology2.9
- Administration and Management2.8
Abilities
- Stamina3.9
- Oral Expression3.9
- Gross Body Coordination3.9
- Extent Flexibility3.9
- Speech Clarity3.6
- Trunk Strength3.6
Core activities
- Performing General Physical Activities4.5
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.1
- Thinking Creatively4.1
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.1
- Training and Teaching Others4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Exercise Trainer
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 5 majors mapped to Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors5 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1314Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
- 31.0501Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
- 31.0504Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
- 31.0507Physical Fitness Technician
- 51.3602Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Exercise Trainer?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Sport and Fitness Administration/Management, which awarded 18,633 degrees in 2024-25, 46.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Exercise Trainer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 5 programs to this occupation. The largest are Sports, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education. Together they graduate about 40,211 people a year.
How much do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn?+
The median is $47,160 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $28,800 at the 10th percentile to $83,100 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors growing?+
BLS projects a +11.9% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 74,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,102 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 5 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Aerobics Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 39-9031.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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