Personal trainers tend to be paid by the hour; the salary depends on two main factors. The first is regarding the qualifications that the personal trainer has, and the second being the location that they are working in.
Are qualifications important
To advertise as a personal trainer they should hold a minimum of a level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Personal Training or equivalent qualification recognised by OFQUAL. After this it is advisable that the personal trainer continues their professional development by completing other courses that will allow them to train clients in different disciplines, this gives them a much wider client base to choose from. A personal trainer with the basic level 3 qualification in personal training is limited to the general population, if this suits them then this is fine, however, they would not be qualified specialise in teaching children, older adults, pre and post-natal clients, disabled clients, or clients with long term medical conditions. By qualifying in these other areas it allows the personal trainer to pick and choose their clients, by opening up to a wider range of special populations who may need their expertise. By doing this they can then charge a higher fee for this specialised knowledge required for training these clients.
Location also makes a big difference to personal training salaries, in London a personal trainer could charge up to as much as £200 per session, even more if they specialise in special populations as mentioned above. In the north salaries can be as low as £30 per hour, again, this depends on the personal trainer’s qualifications and specialism as well as their experience. In Edinburgh and Glasgow there are still personal trainers who can charge up to £100 per hour if they have the skills and knowledge and relevant qualifications to teach special populations.
Looking for a gap in the market is essential in most businesses, as a personal trainer you should always be on the lookout for gaps that could potentially increase your client base. Invest in your career, challenge yourself and make a difference to your client’s health and wellness and your own passion for fitness.
There has been a vast increase in new gyms and health clubs opening all over the UK, this increase opens up a demand for personal trainers to be based in these clubs and offer their services to a vast client base. More people are taking on personal trainers and seeing it as an ‘investment’ in their health, rather than a paid luxury. It is obviously advisable to continue your professional development by adding on additional qualifications to help keep your earnings at that higher level that your skills and knowledge deserve. Working out which ones will benefit you is something you would need to research in your own area. Here are a list of a few that could help reach those higher earning brackets:
- - Sports Massage
- - Pre and post natal exercise
- - Older adults
- - Exercise and physical activity for children
- - Group Training
- - Strength and conditioning
- - Mental health and wellbeing
- - Sports specific training
- - Nutrition
Continuing your professional development also shows that you are continuing to learn and support your clients by keeping them motivated by encouraging new trends for them to try. Client retention is of utmost importance to the personal trainer, by investing in your own learning you are investing in your future income.
If you are contemplating a career as a personal trainer it is a good idea to do a bit of research in your own area, earnings can differ vastly depending on the amount of personal trainers in the area and the demand.
The Fitness Education Academy continually update their course portfolio by adding new courses on a regular basis. They work closely with many health clubs, trusts and councils to support staff and educate their personal trainers to allow them to offer specialised training. Investing in your business, invest in yourself. Visit our courses page at https://thefitnesseducationacademy.co.uk/courses-fulllist.html
