I am looking for a personal trainer, what is the average hourly rate I should expect to pay?

Agreed! A trainer that may just be starting out will probably charge you a bit less (or be required to at certain locations) as they are gaining experience.

But Ryan is correct the average is 50-60ish. Also check in with who you choose and see if they offer any packages. If so, you can sign up for more sessions at a lower rate.

It really varies by area and availibility. Some gyms offer training packages that end up being pretty reasonable. Usually the more sessions you buy, the cheaper the hourly rate.

I am looking for different training packages and how to price them. We live in a small 5,000 population. I have a great 7,600 sq. foot health club. Our problem is being in a smaller town, we need to price things lower than the bigger clubs. Our most popular package is $500 for 21 sessions and this also includes 3 months complimentary membership to the gym. I train these people no less than 2 times per month.

Usually those trainers with more experience will charge more. Ask yourself what you're looking for in a trainer then leverage it against the cost.

Please don't shop rates. Meet some professionals, decide who connects best with you then make your decision. I good trainer can make a higher rate more valuable to you. An experienced professional can also make sure you spend less time face-to-face and more time being productive so it suits your budget.

You are investing in your own wellness. Shop trainers, not rates. This is not a good place to cut corners.

My knee-jerk response when prospective clients ask "how much do you charge?" is "I dunno, how fat are you?"

Not the best rapport builder, I realize, but I tend to get right to the point ;-)

Can any trainer help you get in shape in an hour?
How much weight can a person lose (or strength can they gain, etc) in a single hour?

I suspect many people start with the 'how much' question because they don't know what else to ask.

Unless your goal is simply to work out for individual "hours" and get the experience of having someone else count to 10 while you sweat, my recommendation is to find a trainer who can help you achieve the actual results you're after.

Generally it is going to be in the 50 to 60 per session range this price of course at a health club could be brought down to a lower per session price by purchasing a package which most clubs usually include a discount for purchasing multiple sessions.

Angela, perhaps the most basic determinant as to fees for training is going to be "location." So the answer to your question will depend on where you're located. For example even a beginning trainer in New York City may have fees slightly higher than a more experienced trainer in a lower-cost-of-living location such as Iowa (just an example, I don't know the true demographics of these two locations, but I hope you get what I'm saying here). Anyway so within your location, then you start to look at other factors such as education level, type of certification, amount of training experience. So, my best answer to your question is to do a search in your area and get a feel for what trainers are charging. But one caveat, please don't base your decision on the trainer for you SOLELY on price! The most expensive trainer is not necessarily the best for you, nor is the least expensive necessarily a good bargain. I hope this helps.

LaRue, MHA, JD, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com

$65-$85 its going to depend on experience and credentials. Even track record.