19 Amazing Fitness Careers For Fitness Lovers
What careers are available in fitness? If you love fitness, here are 19 fitness careers and everything you need to know about them.
What careers opportunities are available in the fitness industry? Are careers in health and fitness profitable? If you love fitness, here are 19 fitness careers and everything you need to know about them. Keep reading to learn more!
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This post is all about fitness careers.
19 Fitness Careers For Fitness Lovers
1. Personal Trainer
Median National Salary: $40,700 + per year
Education Required: You will need a certification to be a personal trainer. Some options for certifications are the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Job Duties: A personal trainer helps people achieve their fitness goals by designing customized workout plans and providing motivation and support. Personal trainers can work for fitness clubs, gyms, or in private practice.
Do you want to become a personal trainer? Get your personal training certification with ISSA. ISSA is the number one rated and reviewed personal trainer certification. They also have a 7-day money-back guarantee!
2. Athletic Trainer
Median National Salary: $48,420+ per year
Education Required: Master’s degree
Job Duties: Athletic trainers work with athletes of all ages, helping them prevent injury and maintain fitness. An athletic trainer may be employed by a fitness club or gym, or they may travel with a sports team to provide on-site care for the athletes’ fitness needs.
To be an athletic trainer, you must earn at least a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. It is a common requirement to have a master’s degree. You will also need to be certified by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC).
3. Gym Manager
Median National Salary: $37,610+ per year
Education Required: There are no specific educational requirements to become a gym manager, but most managers have a degree in business or fitness management.
Job Duties: Gym managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a fitness club or gym. This includes hiring and training staff, maintaining equipment, and ensuring that the facility meets safety and hygiene standards.
4. Occupational Therapist
Median National Salary: $85,570+ per year
Education Required: Master’s degree
Job Duties: Occupational therapists do not just work with seniors! They help people of all ages who have difficulty performing everyday tasks. This may include helping someone recover from an injury, teaching children how to write and eat properly, or developing strategies for coping with a mental illness.
To become an occupational therapist, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or an entry-level doctoral program. You will also need to be licensed in your state and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam.
5. Gym Owner
Median National Salary: $70,218+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Gym owners are responsible for managing fitness facilities. They provide fitness equipment and services to their members, such as group fitness classes, personal training sessions and nutrition counseling.
You will need a bachelor’s degree in business administration or health so you can learn how to manage a fitness facility. You will also need experience working in the fitness industry so you can learn the fitness business from hands-on experience.
This article is all about the best fitness jobs.
6. Exercise Physiologist
Median National Salary: $47,940+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Exercise physiologists create fitness programs to improve cardiovascular function, body composition, and flexibility to help patients. They make personalized fitness regimens for every patient depending on each individual’s goals and medical history.
In order to determine what regimen is best for each individual, they administer exercise stress tests, and measure heart and breath rate, measure blood pressure, and measure metabolic rates.
A bachelor’s degree in science or health-related courses is required to become an exercise physiologist.
7. Physical Therapist
Median National Salary: $95,620+ per year
Education Required: Doctoral or professional degree
Job Duties: Physical therapists are in charge of helping patients recover from injuries and improve their movement. They do this by creating personalized fitness programs, providing manual therapy, and educating patients on how to stay healthy.
A physical therapist must have a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited school in order to be qualified for licensure. This degree is earned after completing a four-year undergraduate program and three years of graduate school.
In order to practice as a physical therapist, all states require that one must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and be licensed by their state’s licensing board. There may also be additional requirements depending on the state where you live.
8. Fitness Apparel Designer
Median National Salary: $65,950+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Fitness apparel designers create fitness gear and athleisure wear. In addition to creating prototypes, fitness apparel designers also stay on top of industry trends, sketch new designs and are often involved in the manufacturing process as well.
Fitness apparel designers are the individuals behind your favorite leggings. Every detail of those leggings – the stitching, the material, the sweat-wicking ability, the way they hug the curves of your body, etc. was all thought out and designed by someone!
A bachelor of fine arts in apparel design is needed to be a fitness apparel designer.
9. Fitness Model
Median National Salary: $49,812+ per year
Education Required: None
Job Duties: Fitness models are the people you see on fitness magazine covers or online fitness websites. They are the ones who have rock-hard abs, sculpted arms and legs, and a booty that just won’t quit. Fitness models model clothing, fitness equipment, and fitness supplements.
There is no specific education requirement to become a fitness model; however, most fitness models have some sort of background in fitness training and nutrition. Many fitness models also have experience as personal trainers or group fitness instructors.
On average, fitness models make $50,000 per year. However, some fitness models make up to $200,000 per year.
10. Fitness Writer
Median National Salary: $69,510+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Fitness writers are fitness enthusiasts who get to write about fitness topics for publications, websites, and blogs. They can make a pretty penny doing what they love—writing about fitness!
There is no formal education or certification required to become a fitness writer; however, most fitness writers have a degree in journalism or English. Many fitness writers also have fitness certifications and degrees in fitness.
On average, fitness writers can make anywhere between $30,000 to $90,000 per year. It depends on their experience as well as the number of clients they have. Some fitness writers are self-employed while others work for publications or websites full-time.
11. Recreational Therapist
Median National Salary: $47,940+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Recreational therapists treat patients who have illnesses or disabilities through the use of recreation activities. They help patients improve their fitness and increase their quality of life.
To be a recreational therapist, you need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy or a related field. You also need to take an exam and be licensed in your state. Recreational therapists must keep up with continuing education requirements as well as renew their licenses every so many years.
This article is all about careers in the fitness industry.
12. Massage Therapist
Median National Salary: $46,910+ per year
Education Required: Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Duties: Massage therapists are responsible for giving massage treatments to clients. They must have a strong knowledge of the human body and be able to identify problems areas. To become a massage therapist, you need to complete an accredited massage therapy program and pass a certification exam.
Massage therapists need to complete an accredited massage therapy program and pass a certification exam.
13. Dietician
Median National Salary: $61,650+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Dietitians can help clients create meal plans that will help them improve their performance and get the results they are looking for.
Dietitians can work one-on-one with clients in a private setting, in hospitals, in nursing homes, in cafeterias and for state and local governments.
In order to become a dietician, you need a Bachelor of science degree in nutrition and then you will need to pass the National Dietitian Registration exam.
14. Fitness Editor
Median National Salary: $63,350+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Fitness editors are in charge of creating content for fitness magazines, websites, and other related platforms. They are responsible for coming up with new and innovative ideas to keep their readers engaged. Often, they are in charge of managing writers, publishing content, and editing content.
In order to become a fitness editor, you need a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or a related field.
15. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Median National Salary: $61,177+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists are fitness professionals who design fitness regimens for athletes. They help their clients improve performance and reach fitness goals.
To become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, individuals must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a related field. Afterward, you need to earn the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Do you want to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist? Get your certification with ISSA! As a certified strength and conditioning coach, you will learn how to help your clients build endurance, strength, power, and speed.
16. Fitness Tech Engineer
Median National Salary: $78,360+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Fitness tech engineers are responsible for the design and development of fitness technology products. They must have a Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, biomechanics or engineering.
Fitness tech engineers typically need a Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, biomechanics or engineering. They may also require certification from fitness technology companies, such as Technogym or Precor.
This article is all about the best fitness jobs.
17. Physical Education Teacher
Median National Salary: $50,197+ per year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Job Duties: Physical education teachers are responsible for teaching students about fitness and how to live a healthy lifestyle. They must have a Bachelor’s degree in physical education, kinesiology, or a related field.
Most states require physical education teachers to hold licensure. Physical education teachers may also need certification from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).
18. Group Fitness Instructor
Median National Salary: $53,796+ per year
Education Required: Personal training certification and/or group fitness instructor certification
Job Duties: A group fitness instructor leads group fitness classes such as yoga classes, cycling classes, and kickboxing classes. Any group fitness class you can imagine is led by a group fitness instructor.
19. Bodybuilding Coach
Median National Salary: $53,307+ per year
Education Required: Personal training certification and bodybuilding certification
Job Duties: Bodybuilding coaches work with individuals, athletes, and competitive bodybuilders to assist them in attaining their fitness and physique goals. They create weightlifting routines based on research, assist with meal plans, assist with competition prep, and more.
You don’t necessarily need specific education or certification to be a bodybuilding coach. However, you do have to know how to build muscle, how to help individuals attain their goals and have a background in bodybuilding.
If you want to be a bodybuilding coach, it is recommended (but not required) that you become a certified personal trainer and then get a bodybuilding training certification.
If you want to become a bodybuilding coach, we recommend the ISSA Bodybuilding Certification. You can study at your own pace and learn training, recovery, motivation, and nutritional strategies to prepare you to work with bodybuilders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the best fitness careers are fitness professionals like fitness instructors, personal trainers, fitness coaches, and bodybuilding coaches.
The highest-paying jobs in fitness include physical therapists (PTs), athletic directors, sports medicine physicians, and strength & conditioning coaches. How much money you make varies widely depending on your experience level and position
There are many careers related to fitness that can provide great opportunities for fitness lovers. Some of these careers include physical therapist assistant, kinesiologist, occupational therapist assistant, and registered dietitian.
The qualifications you need for a career in fitness vary depending on the position. However, many positions require some sort of certification.
You can do a lot of fitness careers without a degree. Some fitness jobs that don’t require degrees include fitness instructor, fitness coach, and personal trainer.
Bottom Line
If you are interested in a career in the fitness industry, there are many options! Hopefully, one of these jobs in the fitness industry will spark your imagination and help you start envisioning your dream career!
This post was all about fitness careers and jobs in fitness industry.
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