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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

Part of Human Services, in the Personal Care Services pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 39-9031.00

What the work is

Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.

On a typical day

  • Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
  • Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
  • Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
  • Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
  • Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
  • Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.

What it pays

$45,640
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $22,920
Experienced workers reach $75,960
  1. $23k10th
  2. $30k25th
  3. $46kMedian
  4. $59k75th
  5. $76k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $22,920, 25th $30,150, Median $45,640, 75th $58,860, 90th $75,960

About 1,720 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+20.6%

employment change in the Alamo region, 1,932 to 2,329 jobs · U.S. +12%

419

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 74,200

1,932

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 370,100

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Short-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Instructing3.6
  2. Service Orientation3.3
  3. Speaking3.3
  4. Learning Strategies3.6
  5. Monitoring3.6
  6. Active Listening3.3
  7. Social Perceptiveness3.3
  8. Critical Thinking3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less14%
  2. Certificate57%
  3. Some college5%
  4. Associate degree10%
  5. Bachelor's degree10%
  6. Master's degree5%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Kinesiology

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Health & Biosciences

  2. Kinesiology & Health

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Health & Biosciences

  3. Kinesiology

    Transfer pre-major · Health & Biosciences

  4. Kinesiology

    Transfer pre-major · Health & Biosciences

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