Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 39-9031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$47,154
$22.67/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $47,154 per year ($22.67/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $35,277 and $61,734 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $83,096 per year. There are approximately 322,930 exercise trainers and group fitness instructors employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+11.9%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
74K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
370K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
6% from new growth94% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
NAICS 713900
216K
$48,110
Civic and Social Organizations
NAICS 813400
31K
$38,640
Other Schools and Instruction
NAICS 611600
23K
$45,350
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
14K
$48,240
Other Personal Services
NAICS 812900
11K
$47,420
Wage range across top 5 industries: $38,640 to $48,240 (25% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$13.85
$28,808
P25
$16.96
$35,277
P50MEDIAN
$22.67
$47,154
P75
$29.68
$61,734
P90
$39.95
$83,096
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · retail sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.6%
Quits Rate
3.1%
Retail openings rose to 737K (+52K) in March, rate up to 4.6%. Hires increased to 684K (+73K). Frontline turnover persists with quit rate at 3.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average exercise trainers and group fitness instructors salary?
The national median salary for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $47,154 per year ($22.67/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $35,277 and $61,734 annually.
How much do top-earning exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make?
The 90th percentile salary for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is $83,096 per year ($39.95/hr). The 75th percentile is $61,734 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?
Entry-level Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (10th percentile) earn approximately $28,808 per year ($13.85/hr). The 25th percentile is $35,277 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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