Is becoming a personal trainer worth it? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Is becoming a personal trainer worth it?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Becoming a personal trainer gives you the freedom to work all over the world.
  • As a personal trainer, you’re able to live a healthier lifestyle by doing what you love.
  • The annual median salary for a personal trainer is $56,875.

Whether you’ve become disillusioned with the daily grind or simply bored with your current position, changing careers can seem a little daunting. Most of us dream of a job that doesn’t keep us chained to a desk, staring hour after hour at a computer.

If you’re hooked on fitness, now might seem like the perfect opportunity to transform your passion into a rewarding career.

In addition to being relatively low stress, the average salary for personal trainers continues to increase.

But even with so many incentives, you may still have questions about whether becoming a personal trainer is the right decision.

We’ve compiled a list of reasons why you should make the change. When you’re ready, request a demo of our All-In-One Fitness Business Management Software to see how our software can help you grow your personal training business.

Helping Others Make Positive Changes

Probably the most rewarding aspect of being a personal trainer is helping others change their lives for the better. Think about it: You meet a new client who is depressed because of their weight and body shape. With your encouragement, they find the motivation to shed the extra weight, build muscle, and continuously bolster their self-confidence.

Being able to share such a positive experience with clients can motivate you to better yourself. Your clients’ positive experiences not only inspires others but are also the best type of free publicity. Happy clients are eager to share their success stories with others, giving you the positive reinforcement you need to build your business.

You Live a Healthier Lifestyle

How many times have you felt like you were sleepwalking through your day? Sedentary lifestyles are clinically proven to be bad for us. Not only do we gain weight, but only getting up to go to lunch can lead to hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and even heart disease.

Personal trainers know how much impact movement has on daily life. When you spend your day on your feet, your body breaks down fats and sugars more efficiently.

The human body was designed to move, so becoming a personal trainer gives you the best of both worlds. Not only are you helping others become physically fit, but you’re also improving your own health by staying active most of the day. And since you are supposed to set an example for your clients, being in the best shape possible will motivate them when they feel like giving up.

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Train Anyone, Anywhere in the World.

Income Potential

With the ongoing growth of the fitness industry, personal trainers are earning more than ever before. Certified personal trainers can earn up to $70,000 annually.

Many factors determine how much a personal trainer can make. Where you work and whether you are certified can have an impact on your salary, but on average, the median salary of a certified personal trainer is $56,875.

A personal trainer’s salary can also vary based on the following factors:

  • Experience
  • Geographic location
  • Specialization
  • Level of certification

You Are Your Own Boss

As a personal trainer, you no longer need to sit in the same nondescript cubicle day after day. As a matter of fact, you have the freedom to work all around the world. Regardless of locale, people want to be physically fit and live a healthier lifestyle.

Being a personal trainer allows you to help people reach their fitness goals on your schedule.

And even if you’re not ready to leave your present job, you can gradually work your way to being a full-time personal trainer in increments. You can do it on the weekends or part-time on weekdays.

There are so many advantages to being a personal trainer. From helping people reach their fitness goals to brightening your clients’ day when they feel like giving up, becoming a personal trainer allows you to be part of one of the most rewarding careers out there!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What certification do most personal trainers have?

Most personal trainers are certified through ACE or NASM.

Can a personal trainer have a certification and be a bad trainer?

Yes; just as a doctor can have a medical degree and still be a “bad” doctor, having a personal training certification does not mean that the trainer is an effective one.

How long does becoming a certified personal trainer take?

It depends on the certification. Some only require a few days or weeks of studying; others require months of study and other pre-requisites like a college degree.

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