Personal Training

Personal Trainer Job Profile

Personal Trainer Career Profile

Role and Responsibilities

  • Provide individual programmes to help clients achieve their health and fitness goals
  • Educate, motivate and coach clients to ensure they follow their programme safely and effectively
  • Offer personalised health, nutrition and lifestyle advice

Hours and Environment

  • Personal trainers may work a 37-hour week, but hours are client centred and can include evenings and weekends
  • Many trainers are self-employed and work hours to suit themselves and clients. Other trainers work as gym instructors and personal train outside their normal hours of work
  • Personal trainers may rent space in a gym, have their own facilities or visit clients in their own homes

Key Skills and Interests

  • Be determined and enthusiastic
  • Have good organisational skills
  • Have patience and tact
  • Be able to motivate and enthuse people
  • Be able to work with people from varied backgrounds
  • Have a responsible attitude towards health and safety
  • Understand the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet
  • Be committed to your own professional development

Getting Employed

  • Personal trainers are fitness instructors with a high level of experience and advanced qualifications
  • You must have a recognised L3 qualification in order gain entry onto the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)

Income Guide

  • Personal trainers are usually paid by the hour for each session with a client
  • There are no set salary scales. Earnings depend on location, number of clients and on whether the trainer is independent or works for a gym
  • Freelance instructors could earn between £20 and £40 an hour. Some popular instructors with high profile clients may earn between £50 and £100 an hour
  • Trainers in full-time employment will typically earn between £18,000 and £24,000 a year

Industry Overview

  • Personal trainers are often self-employed. It is possible to work in settings such as health clubs owned by large chains, in spas, resorts, on cruise ships and for large companies providing workplace fitness facilities
  • Some trainers may work exclusively for a single prestigious client