By Craig Smith (CRS Editorial)
25 October 2021
With a focused perspective on promoting a healthy lifestyle intertwined with the physiological impact on others, each and every personal trainer contributes to the UK’s fitness landscape.
Like any vocation though, remuneration is a key consideration.
This blog defines just what a personal trainer does, highlights opportunities for career progression and answers the question on everyone’s lips – just how much does a personal trainer earn?
What does a personal trainer do?
The very definition of a personal trainer is an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications to be able to deliver safe and effective exercise programmes to others.
Though there are similarities that exist between the work of a gym or fitness instructor and the role of a personal trainer, significant differences do present themselves. One of the pivotal distinctions is the level of qualification.
Unlike their gym / fitness instructor counterparts who are qualified to Level 2, a personal trainer is required to possess at least Level 3 recognition. This step up in necessity is reflected in the additional knowledge possessed by a personal trainer.
How do I become a personal trainer?
Ascending the career ladder is testament to the ambition of many a fitness professional. As an accompaniment to a thirst for continuous personal development comes additional responsibility – something that can be fulfilled by studying for CIMSPA-endorsed and Ofqual-regulated qualifications with the UK’s leading provider of personal trainer courses.
To become officially recognised as a personal trainer means qualifying at Level 3. The quest for continual improvement may be fed by a Level 4 course.
In addition to the focused personal trainer qualifications, Study Active offers many additional professional qualifications for those with a desire to specialise in working with people with specific issues, such as a Level 3 Pre & Post Natal or a Level 3 in Supporting Clients with Long-term Conditions, both of which will not only build your reputation in the industry but also help massage your income.
How much does a personal trainer earn?
According to reputable job search engine, Jobted, the starting salary for a personal trainer is around £17,000, with progressive qualifications, accomplishments and specialisms presenting the opportunity of earning over £100,000. The average salary of a personal trainer in the UK is approximately £37,000.
Suffice to say that regional breakdown across the UK and experience play a significant factor in how much a personal trainer can earn.
The below tables give a helpful overview as to the differences in pay that exist relative to experience and whereabouts in the UK personal trainers operate.
|
Experience |
Salary |
|
0–3 years |
£17,000 |
|
4–9 years |
£34,300 |
|
Average salary |
£37,000 |
|
10–20 years |
£56,600 |
Paradoxically, personal trainers of more than 20 years’ experience may notice their income either drop off, or indeed skyrocket up to £100,000. Again, such remuneration does depend on geography and other factors.
*The salary information highlighted is based on all personal trainer jobs published on Jobted over the last 12 months. Information accessed on 21/10/2021.
Does the area in which personal trainers operate make a difference to salary?
As with most jobs, where you are based in the UK plays a part in the fluctuation of money you can expect to take home.
Quite often we hear of a London weighting when remuneration is discussed, so it is no surprise this also features prominently in the world of the personal trainer too, as the below information from the website Payscale shows.
|
Region |
% Difference Based on Average Salary |
|
London |
61% more than the average |
|
Manchester |
18% more than the average |
|
Birmingham |
11% more than the average |
|
Newcastle |
19% more than the average |
|
Sheffield |
11% more than the average |
|
Portsmouth |
19% below the average |
|
Cardiff |
36% below the average |
|
Preston |
52% below the average |
|
Lincoln |
66% below the average |
|
Belfast |
67% below the average |
* Information last updated 09/10/2021 and accessed on 21/10/2021.
Do you want to find out more?
Interested in finding out more about the wealth of qualifications on offer to become a personal trainer or to take that next step up the ladder?
Then visit Study Active for a full breakdown of all the available courses, email us at info@studyactive.co.uk or call us on 0345 017 8733.
Editor’s notes: How much a personal trainer earn?
It is difficult to confirm the salary as a Personal Trainer due to Personal Trainer’s salaries being so subjective. Personal Training salary will also differ by location for example a Personal Trainer London salary will likely differ from that of other parts of the UK.
How much does a Personal Trainer make is such a common question with so many asking what a likely PT salary is. It is however difficult to confirm a Personal Training salary as Personal Training pay can be employed, self employed or a mixture of the two. It also depends on the Personal Trainer hourly rate as this will likely differ in terms of experience, expertise and location.
A salary for Personal Trainer graduates will likely differ to the salary of a Personal Trainer who has extensive experience. It is therefore hard to pin point an average Personal Trainer salary UK based or even London based. An average Personal Trainer UK salary is likely to be made up of lots of different demographics so arriving at a definite UK Personal Trainer salary average is somewhat hard.
We could look at Personal Trainer jobs Belfast, Cardiff, London or Edinburgh have advertised and these would likely all differ in terms of the Personal Trainer salary.
When employed by a gym Personal Trainer salary may actually be less than it would be if the PT was freelance. This is because in general a fitness trainer salary UK or in London is going to likely be less than a Personal Training salary of a freelance PT.
When employed in a gym Personal Trainer salary may be that of a Gym Instructor as opposed to a Personal Trainer. This is because some gyms may take on qualified PTs but employ them essentially as Gym Instructors. This explains the variation in salary for Personal Trainers employed in a gym compared to freelance Personal Trainers. For example an example of a fitness trainer salary UK wise is, according to Glassdoor, circa £24,378 and according to Total Jobs the average fitness coach salary is £23,000.
However, in terms of a salary as a Personal Trainer, a freelance PT salary according to Glass door is £31,539. This would likely be higher if we looked just at Personal Trainer London salary as this figure is likely an average Personal trainer UK salary.
In terms of a Personal Trainer hourly rate PayScale report that this is £24.70 in 2023. However again this is likely reflective of a Personal Trainer salary UK wide with a Personal Trainer London salary likely to again be higher.
In summary we can see that the questions “how much does a Personal Trainer make?” is a tough one to answer. We can be guided by the Personal Trainer salaries reported via various websites however there are so many factors that determine a PT salary that it is very difficult to answer the age old question “how much can I make as a Personal Trainer?” Personal Training pay is therefore largely subjective with a Personal Trainer hourly rate likely showing huge variation depending on experience and location. We have seen how the Personal Training salary can differ in different parts of the UK with a Personal Trainer London salary likely to be higher than other areas.
Disclaimer:
Please note, reported figures regarding Fitness Trainer salary or Personal Trainers salary are correct at date of writing. All figures were taken from the websites of the above mentioned companies. This information is intended as a guide only and anyone making a career decision should seek further clarification of the exact figures in relation to a salary as a Personal Trainer or Fitness Trainer UK wide. Anyone seeking further clarification on Personal Training pay, Personal Trainer hourly rate or Personal Trainer salaries in general should contact a Personal Trainer careers advisor for further guidance on a likely PT salary.
For more Study Active blogs and to read 'How to get more Personal Training clients' please visit: How To Get More Clients As A Personal Trainer In 2022 | Study Active