Enjoy One of These Rewarding Fitness Careers

You can find several types of fitness careers, depending on your interests, skills, and education level. Here are 12 to consider:

Aerobics instructor 

Average base pay: $20 per hour

One of the most recognized jobs in the fitness industry is an aerobics instructor. In this role, you typically teach groups of people exercise classes at a gym. You have the option to teach a variety of classes, some more advanced than others. The classes usually mix cardio routines with light strength training.  

Water aerobics instructor 

Average base pay: $22 per hour 

If you enjoy fitness, water, and working with people, head to the pool to become a water aerobics instructor.

Water aerobics is a popular type of low-impact exercise that participants can enjoy year-round. The water’s buoyancy allows individuals with varying physical abilities to exercise without stressing their joints. Typically, the classes take place in the shallow end of the pool and include upper and lower body exercises. 

As a water aerobics instructor, you can work with clients of all ages. The classes typically occur in gyms, but might also be held at rehab centers. If you’re working in a rehab center, you will likely collaborate with the patient’s care team to design a program with their specific needs in mind.

Cycling instructor

Average base pay: $26 per hour 

If you enjoy working out on bikes and teaching and motivating others, consider being a cycling instructor. As a group cycling instructor, you get to combine these skills by teaching classes at a gym or facility. Depending on the class you teach, you might have people with a variety of ability levels in the same class. You choreograph workouts to upbeat music to help motivate your students.

Yoga teacher 

Average base pay: $36,442 per year 

Yoga is a fitness style that focuses on stretching and balancing the physical element with meditation. This practice is popular in the fitness industry, as it has many uses for all age groups. As a yoga teacher, you can find a variety of career opportunities and can work for yourself or in a studio. Depending on where you live, you can teach classes outside at sunrise, during the day, or at sunset. 

You might also have the opportunity to work with a variety of sports teams. In this role, you work with the strength and conditioning staff to create a specialized stretching program that can reduce stress and increase flexibility. If you’re employed by a team, you’ll likely have to work around their travel schedule, games, and practices. You might also have unique hours or one-on-ones with athletes.

Strength coach 

Average base pay: $40,089 per year

Every athlete needs the strength and endurance to finish their game in the best shape possible. This is where the strength and conditioning staff comes into play. As a strength coach, you might work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. However, you usually work with a team, such as a high school, college, or professional team. You might also have the option of working within a certain sport, such as hockey, baseball, or basketball.

Personal trainer

Average base pay: $43,145 per year

One of the most popular jobs in the fitness industry is the role of a personal trainer. In this field, you can work by yourself as an individual trainer or with one or more clients at a gym or another facility. You will need to combine the skills of an entrepreneur with your fitness knowledge as you find and work with your clients.

Certified athletic trainer

Average base pay: $46,474 per year

Certified athletic trainers play an extremely important role with team sports of any level. This fitness career option combines medicine with your passion for sports. You might work on a flexible schedule according to the team’s needs. On top of your game day duties, you might also accompany athletes or coaches to medical appointments. As a trainer, you’ll work with a variety of people, including athletes, coaches, strength coaches, nutritionists, emergency medical professionals, and management.  

Sports nutritionist 

Average base pay: $51,291 per year

One of the most important behind-the-scenes jobs in fitness is a sports nutritionist. As a nutritionist, you are tasked with creating healthy meal plans and options for athletes. A background in food science is helpful in this role. 

One potential career path for sports nutritionists is to work with professional or amateur sports teams’ training staff to create food plans for the team. You might also be in charge of body testing tracking. For example, you’ll track athletes’ body fat levels and body mass indices. You might also offer nutritional counseling, which is important for athletes who struggle to make the connection between healthy eating and how they perform on the field. High school and college athletic departments might request your services prior to the start of the fall, winter, and spring seasons.

In addition to your nutrition knowledge, you need good organizational skills, especially if you are working with a team. You need to track every team member as well as the coaching staff. You also need to know if anyone has food allergies or special dietary needs because of a medical condition such as diabetes.

Athletic director 

Average base pay: $56,259 per year

The athletic director is often the unsung hero of an athletic department. In this role, you oversee staff, perform administrative tasks such as writing paychecks, create the department’s budget, and wear many other hats throughout the day. While you’re working through your daily paperwork, you also have to communicate with other schools to schedule or reschedule games. Most schools create their schedules at least two years in advance, and scheduling can get complicated if your school is set to host a special event or tournament. 

You’ll also be involved with the hiring of new coaches. Once you fill a position, you participate in the press conference to introduce the coach. You might also be the voice of the department if someone gets fired. The media might contact you for comments on milestones or special occasions. You also remain in contact with your institution’s teams to let them know they have your support before, during, and after the season. 

Gym manager 

Average base pay: $63,427 per year

A health and fitness career option for those who enjoy multitasking is managing a gym. In this role, you perform many duties. You work with the facility’s leadership team to accomplish any administrative tasks that need attention. You and your staff might perform these tasks before the gym opens or during the day while members work out. Once you’re done with the day’s paperwork, you need to be available to answer questions from members or your staff.

Sports psychologist

Average base pay: $72,661 per year

Sports psychologists are individuals who work with athletes in multiple roles. The athlete might come to you for help preparing for an upcoming season or game. You might also help them through a slump during the year. A team might also contact a sports psychologist to assist with an athlete’s rehab program. Depending on the severity of the injury, the athlete might have mental hurdles to overcome in addition to their physical ones before they can return to competition.

Physical therapist 

Average base pay: $73,148 per year

As much as athletes prepare their bodies for the heat of competition, injuries can happen. Once injured athletes complete their required medical treatment, they’ll need rehabilitation. This is where physical therapists come in. In this role, you can work in a hospital setting or an independent clinic. You might also work with a college or professional team. You collaborate with doctors and athletes to design programs that promote strength and get them back to their team as soon as possible. 

The world of fitness offers a variety of career paths. You have the opportunity to work with athletes in many areas and capacities. You also have the ability to work behind the scenes. The fitness careers on this list allow you to pursue your passion professionally. Find your dream fitness job today.