The fitness industry is on the rise, with a significant increase in demand for personal trainers. In just five years, Australia’s fitness sector added 11,800 personal trainer jobs across 6,426 fitness businesses. Looking ahead, the scene is set for even more growth, with fitness jobs projected to climb by 16%, reaching 43,900 by 2024. This surge opens up diverse career paths for personal trainers, promising a bright and bustling future. Now is the perfect time to start your journey in personal training.
Is Personal Training a Good Career Choice?
Diverse Job Opportunities for Personal Trainers
A career as a personal trainer comes with many opportunities for professional growth. Getting certified as a personal trainer is an exciting journey that opens a whole world of possibilities. The fitness and wellness industry is rising, expanding the scope of personal training beyond just gyms. Nowadays, certified personal trainers have a variety of career paths to explore, letting them choose their profession based on what they love and enjoy.
1. Online Personal Training
2. Gym-Based Personal Trainer
Working as a personal trainer in a gym is the classic route many choose. In this setting, trainers work one-on-one with clients, designing personalised exercise programmes, guiding them in proper form and technique, and offering motivation and support. Gym-based personal trainers may also lead group fitness classes such as boot camps and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This role allows trainers to gain valuable experience and build a strong foundation in the fitness industry.
3. Specialised Personal Trainer
Some personal trainers choose to focus on specific areas of health and wellness, rehabilitation, nutrition, or sports performance training. Specialised personal training in Australia offers a range of services tailored to helping clients meet their health and fitness goals. By focusing on a niche area, personal trainers can become experts in their field, providing in-depth advice and tailored programs that cater to the unique needs of their clients.
4. Group Fitness Instructor
Leading group workouts in larger classes, the group fitness instructor role is a rewarding career path within personal trainer jobs. These professionals design and deliver high-energy classes in a gym setting, covering various exercises such as muscle building, aerobics, spinning, yoga, and Pilates. Being a group fitness instructor requires a passion for motivating people, and ensuring they are performing exercises correctly and safely. It’s an ideal role for those who thrive in dynamic, communal settings.
5. Freelance Trainer
Freelance trainers have the flexibility to create their schedules, choose their clients, and set their rates. This role can include leading group workouts in gyms, fitness centres, community centres, and even outdoor fitness programs. The average salary for a freelance trainer is around $102,375 per year. Given that over one-third of Australians participate in some kind of fitness and gym activities, the potential for career progression is substantial for those passionate about fitness and wellness.
6. High-End Coaching
For personal trainers with lots of experience and a solid reputation, high-end coaching is a very good job that pays well. This job means you work with famous people, big names, and top athletes. You give them very special training and a lot of attention. You create advanced programs to help them do their best and strategies to improve how they perform. You look after their overall health and well-being, making sure they feel confident and ready to perform at their best.
7. Management Roles
If you’re a personal trainer who knows a lot and has good leadership skills, you might be interested in management roles at gyms or fitness centres. Jobs like fitness manager, group fitness manager, or personal training manager are important because you’re in charge of a team of trainers and you make fitness programs. Your job is to help the gym or fitness centre be successful and grow. This is a great way for successful personal trainers to use their skills to help their team and their fitness career.
8. Gym Ownership
Personal trainers who want to start their own business might think about opening a gym. Owning your own gym, health club, fitness club or studio is great because you can make a unique place that shows what you believe about training. You can be creative, make money, and build a community of members and other trainers. As of 2023, there were approximately 7,311 gyms and health and fitness centres located across Australia. The fitness sector makes $4.4 billion a year, and people pay around $60 a month for a gym membership. If you have 100 customers, you could make up to $6,000 just from memberships every month. You could also make more money in your own PT business by adding things like a protein bar, more classes, or personal training.
9. Clinical Settings
Working in places like physical therapy clinics, rehabilitation centres, or hospitals can be very fulfilling for personal trainers. Here, you work with healthcare professionals to make exercise programs that help people get better after injuries or support those with long-term health problems. It’s a job where you’re part of a team that works together to help patients.
10. Consulting
Personal trainers with a lot of knowledge and skills might choose to work as consultants. This can be on your own or with corporate wellness programs. As a consultant, you give expert advice, run workshops or seminars, and make wellness plans for businesses. This job is great because it makes you think, gives you a flexible schedule, and lets you work with many different kinds of people. It’s a good choice for personal trainers looking for something different in their careers.
11. Sports Coach
A sports coach guides youth and adult sports teams. They teach the sport’s rules and how to play better. Coaches run training and practice sessions to make players stronger and better at working together. They also help players act with honesty and play fair. Being a sports coach is about making the team work well together and helping each player do their best.
12. Bodybuilding Coach
A bodybuilding coach helps athletes, sports teams, and bodybuilders reach their fitness and body goals. They create weightlifting plans based on science to get the best results. These coaches aim for their clients to perform at their highest level. Working as a bodybuilding coach means using knowledge to build strong and fit bodies.
13. Health Coach
Health coaches are important in the wellness industry. They help people get healthier. They check how healthy someone is and suggest ways to live healthier. Health coaches make personal health plans for each person. They focus on making sure people follow these plans to feel better overall. Being a health coach means helping others live a healthier life.
14. Yoga Instructor
Yoga instructors lead yoga classes. They teach breathing exercises, stretching positions, how to relax, and how to meditate. Yoga instructors share yoga’s history and ideas. They make sure everyone, no matter their age or fitness level, can do yoga safely. Teaching yoga means helping others feel calm and strong.
15. Pilates Instructor
Pilates instructors teach pilates exercises. These exercises make people’s core muscles strong and improve flexibility, posture, and muscle tone. They use different exercises for everyone, including athletes, pregnant women, and older people. Pilates instructors have an important job in helping people feel and move better.
Education and Qualifications
Getting and keeping up-to-date certifications is very important for anyone wanting to work in fitness. These qualifications not only validate your expertise but also demonstrate a commitment to professional development. Always learning new things helps you keep up with the latest in fitness and teach your clients better. This makes you the best personal trainer.
Certifications
Certificate III in Fitness
This foundational course is perfect for those starting their journey in the fitness industry, aiming to become gym or group fitness instructors. It covers essential topics such as anatomy, physiology, exercise planning, and instruction techniques. With a focus on practical skills, this certification prepares you to lead various fitness programs confidently. The blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience ensures that graduates are well-equipped to inspire and guide individuals toward their fitness goals.
Certificate IV in Fitness
Building on the fundamentals learned in Certificate III, this advanced certification delves deeper into personalised training methods, including assessment and programming for individual clients or small groups. It emphasises creating tailored fitness plans that cater to specific needs, preferences, and objectives. This course is ideal for aspiring personal trainers who wish to offer more specialised services and achieve greater impact in their clients' lives through customised workout and wellness strategies.
Fast Track Options
For those eager to accelerate their entry into the fitness profession, fast-track options provide an efficient pathway to complete both Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness. This accelerated approach allows students to quickly gain the necessary qualifications, including first aid and CPR certifications, to become fully certified personal trainers. By combining self-paced study with virtual workshops, these options offer flexibility and convenience without compromising the quality of education, making it easier for passionate fitness enthusiasts to turn their passion into a rewarding career.
FiT’s online personal trainer courses are your gateway to not just becoming a personal trainer but to becoming the best in the field. Embrace the opportunity to stay ahead of fitness trends and broaden your skill set, making you an invaluable resource to your clients.
Start your journey with FiT today, and unlock your potential to transform lives, including your own, through fitness.
Success Stories and Case Studies
The journey to becoming a successful personal trainer is unique and filled with opportunities for those ready to embrace them. Take Tara, who credits her success to the practical training days and one-on-one coaching received, which not only boosted her confidence but also equipped her with the skills to offer both in-person and online personal training.
Her story, along with others, showcases how personalised support and hands-on learning experiences have shaped aspiring trainers into confident, versatile professionals ready to make their mark in the fitness industry.
Ready to move forward in your Personal Training career? Get in touch with the FiT team today to discover the ideal path to make your dreams a reality.
