Compensation
Staying in the Fitness Game
How do you succeed in the fitness profession? Whether you’ve just gotten certified, you’re returning to a fitness career or you’re an experienced pro who wants to develop new skills, the answer is the same: keep learning. Continuing education is a career necessity that becomes increasingly important as the fitness industry grows more sophisticated, diverse, specialized and evidence-based.
Pilates and Yoga Instructor Salary and Compensation Guide
Pilates or Yoga Instructors: Job Description & Stats
Pilates or yoga instructors teach classes and have specialized training in yoga or Pilates
Source: 2010 IDEA Fitness Industry Compensation Trends Report
Fitness Floor Staff Salary and Compensation Guide
Fitness Floor Staff positions are typically entry level, and responsibilities include monitoring equipment, supplies and people in the facility.
Among the facilities represented in the 2010 IDEA Fitness Industry Compensation Trends Report, 28% employ fitness floor staff. Most are employees (97%) who are paid by the hour (98%). They average 19.5 work hours per week, earning an average of $11.75 per hour. From 2006 to 2008, their hourly rate increased by just $0.25; from 2008 to 2010, there was a more significant increase of $1.50 per hour.
Fitness Director Salary and Compensation Guide
Fitness and program directors hold one of the most influential leadership positions in the health and wellness industry. These professionals are responsible not only for overseeing programming, budgets, and staffing…
Group Exercise Coordinator Salary and Compensation Guide
Group Exercise Coordinators blend programming, people management, and occasional teaching duties. In 2025, these professionals are more critical than ever—shaping group fitness culture, managing instructor teams, and sometimes delivering classes…
Specialty Instructor and Group Fitness Instructor Salary and Compensation Guide
Group Group fitness and specialty instructors remain a vital part of the fitness industry, helping participants improve their health, skills, and confidence through engaging, structured, and often music-driven classes. In…
Personal Trainer Salary and Compensation Guide
The personal training profession in 2025 reflects a dynamic and evolving marketplace. Trainers are no longer tied solely to in-person sessions at local gyms. Instead, many leverage hybrid business models…
The State of the Fitness Job Market in 2025
The fitness industry in 2025 is thriving, fueled by consumer demand for health, wellness, and hybrid lifestyle solutions. From boutique studios to full-scale health clubs, opportunities span traditional exercise instruction,…
Boosting Financial Success Through Advanced Education
As fitness and health professionals we all recognize the importance of staying on top of our game, passionately pursuing continuing education, and applying cutting edge strategies and evidence-based knowledge with…
Is Formal Education Essential for Success as a Personal Trainer?
Does education matter for personal trainers? That singular, burning question has been ever-present throughout my 30+ years in the fitness industry. After deciding to return to college to pursue a…
The Dimensions of Wellness: A 360° View of Wellness
Dimensions of wellness bring together key areas that need attention to ensure that health is not primarily centered on one area.
2023 Fitness Industry Compensation Trends Report
This compensation trends report provides data on current wages in the industry as well as benefits and hiring and promotion criteria.
Get Out of the Red!
Is your fitness business not performing as well as you’d like? Maybe your fitness facility is experiencing too much turnover, so you’re constantly training new staff instead of taking time to grow your business. Or perhaps your clients are leaving, and you’re losing money because of it. Challenges like these are tough for a business owner. The good news is that you can turn things around. The first step is to determine exactly what your problem is. The second step is to create a plan for change.
Increase Income by Diversifying Services
Do you worry about the financial impact of getting sick or injured? Does taking a vacation mean a financial loss for you? As a studio owner or fitness entrepreneur, you have only so many hours in the day to market and run your business and focus on your own professional education and development.
2019 IDEA® World Convention: Igniting Passion With Purpose!
Purpose, passion and people! The fitness industry is all about forging relationships that lift others up. Fitness professionals have energy to spare, and they are dedicated to mentoring new generations of pros, networking with peers, and motivating clients and participants every day.
Health Coaching: Starting Your Business
Are you excited about helping people to transform their lives through health coaching? You’ve educated yourself, earned certifications, gained practical experience and are ready to start your business. What’s next?
Earn More by Diversifying
Do you worry about the financial impact of getting sick or injured? Does taking a vacation mean a financial loss for you? As a studio owner or fitness entrepreneur, you have only so any hours in the day to market and run your business and focus on your own professional education and development.
Top Money Tips for Fit Pros
Money is often a dirty word among fitness professionals. Most get into the business to help others, but you can’t pay bills with good intentions, says Frank Pucher, owner of Fitness 121 Personal Training in Roseland, New Jersey, and author of Smart Money Moves: A Practical Approach for Earning, Growing & Protecting Your Money. He adds that the financial side of fitness should receive as much detailed attention as the programs you design.
The Case Against Allowing Injured Instructors to Teach
Owing to the part-time nature of most group fitness instruction jobs, program directors don’t always interact with staff on a daily basis and may not know that an instructor is teaching while injured.
Are You Ready to Sell Your Fitness Business?
Are you thinking about selling your personal training studio or fitness business? Your business is probably your primary source of income, and selling it will mean you’ll lose that annual income but achieve a one-time capital gain. Are you prepared for that? IDEA member Toby Davis, senior adviser at Sun Acquisitions, Chicago, shares the following tips for anyone preparing to turn over the keys: