How Much Does a Personal Trainer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$47,160
Personal trainers in the U.S. earn a median of $47,160 a year, or $22.67 an hour. Half of personal trainers earn more than $47,160 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $83,100.
Pay percentiles for personal trainers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.85 | $28,800 |
| 25th | $16.96 | $35,280 |
| 50th (median) | $22.67 | $47,160 |
| 75th | $29.68 | $61,730 |
| 90th | $39.95 | $83,100 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (SOC 39-9031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for personal trainers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $64,620 | $31.07 | +37% |
| Connecticut | $61,580 | $29.61 | +31% |
| New Jersey | $59,870 | $28.79 | +27% |
| Oregon | $58,510 | $28.13 | +24% |
| California | $57,990 | $27.88 | +23% |
| Nevada | $57,960 | $27.87 | +23% |
| Vermont | $57,300 | $27.55 | +22% |
| Washington | $50,830 | $24.44 | +8% |
| Wyoming | $50,250 | $24.16 | +7% |
| Colorado | $49,900 | $23.99 | +6% |
| United States | $47,160 | $22.67 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many personal trainers are there?
BLS counts about 322,930 personal trainers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors”. The most jobs are in California (43,600), New York (20,140) and Illinois (19,830).
The mean (average) annual wage is $52,420, higher than the median of $47,160.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,930
- Biweekly
- $1,814
- Weekly
- $907
- Daily (8 hours)
- $181
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do personal trainers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for personal trainers is $22.67. The middle 50% earn between $16.96 and $29.68 an hour.
Which state pays personal trainers the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median wage for personal trainers at $64,620, +37% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for personal trainers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of personal trainers earn less than $28,800 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.