This guide breaks down salaries for self-employed and employed personal trainers across different countries, highlighting key factors that influence earnings and strategies to maximize income in the industry.
Key Takeaways: Personal Trainer Earnings in 2025
Earnings Vary by Employment Type & Location
Self-employed personal trainers have higher earning potential but variable income.
Salaries for employed trainers are more stable but may be lower.
Self-Employed Personal Trainer Income (2025)
US: $5-$30 per session (47%), $150+ per session (22%). Top cities: Washington ($69K), Chicago ($67.5K), NYC ($66.7K).
UK: £19K-£34K/year; London offers higher wages (£33.6K+).
Canada: CA$30.89/hour, with cities like Vancouver offering CA$36/hour.
Australia: AUS$80K-$100K/year; hourly rates between AUS$50-$60.
Employed Personal Trainer Income (2025)
US: $28.85/hour, annual average of $46.6K.
UK: £27.7K/year with an extra £8K in compensation.
Canada: CA$28.85/hour, annual income around CA$56.2K.
Australia: AUS$81K-$87.8K/year, with an hourly wage of AUS$59.75.
7+ Key Factors Affecting Trainer Earnings
Client Results: Proving success boosts retention & referrals.
Education & Certification: Higher qualifications = higher pay.
Work Hours & Experience: More hours & years in the field increase earnings.
Location: Urban areas & wealthy clients pay more.
Specialization: Niche expertise (e.g., sports training) allows premium pricing.
Marketing & Branding: Social media presence drives client growth.
Industry Demand: Boutique studios & online coaching offer better flexibility.
How to Maximize Earnings as a Trainer
Freelancing & Business Ownership: Set your own rates and scale income.
Using Training Apps: Automate scheduling, progress tracking & client management.
Gaining Specializations: Higher rates for niche services.
Offering Semi-Private Sessions: Train multiple clients at once for efficiency.
Taking Extra Shifts: Increase earnings via gym shifts or group sessions.
Understanding market rates, specializing, and leveraging technology can significantly boost income potential for personal trainers in 2025.
Table of Contents
If you are a fitness professional or beginner wondering how much a personal trainer can make in 2025, this post is for you.
We have collected data from reliable resources and listed down personal trainer salaries based on some of the most popular locations. The blog has two separate sections for self-employed personal trainers or employed ones to give you a clear picture.
The best part is that we will discuss aspects that influence how much you can make as a personal trainer and how you can maximize your earnings in 2025. So make sure you are with us till the very end.
Let’s get started!
Self-employed or independent personal trainer income by country in 2025
You might be wondering, do personal trainers make good money by freelancing or owning their own business? Here’s a detailed breakdown of how much self-employed or freelance personal trainers can make in countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
The US
As of 2025, about 47% of personal trainers in the US earn between $5-$30 per session, and 22% charge more than $150 per session, which is almost equivalent to a financial advisor. Here’s some data provided by EZbook for a clear understanding. Please refer to the graph below.
According to real user data by EZbook, 47% personal trainers in USA charge around $5-30 per session. The other 53% charges more than $31 / session with majority charging over $150 / session. This tells us that the earning potential for personal trainers is large and specificity and expertise caters to higher charges.
Some of the highest-paying cities in the USA for self-employed personal trainers are:
Note that in some other states, the price per session will be lower or higher, and accordingly, the total pay varies.
The UK
According to a study done by Glassdoor, the estimated pay of a self-employed personal trainer in the UK can range from £19,000 to £34,000, and the hourly pay ranges between £30 and £60. This amount is exclusive of the additional annual compensation of £5,000.
Popular regions like London in the UK offer an average annual pay of £33,600. However, the base or average wage will be 10 to 15 percent less in smaller or lesser-known areas.
Canada
A study by Indeed.com suggests that the average fitness trainer salary in Canada is CA$ 30.89 per hour. This sums up to CA$ 49,000 per year. However, big cities like Vancouver have a higher average pay scale for personal trainers of about CA$ 36 an hour,
Australia
Seek suggests that the annual pay of a self-employed personal trainer ranges between AUS$ 80,000 to AUS$ 100,000, depending on their experience, certifications, and expertise. The hourly rate for you can be $50 to $60 if you practice as a personal trainer in Australia.
Employed Personal trainer income by country in 2025
Wondering how to make money as a personal trainer in the job market? You can earn by joining a fitness studio or gym as a personal trainer. Here’s how much you can make in different countries.
The US
Reports by Indeed suggest that the average income of a personal trainer in the US is $28.85 per hour, which makes the total annual income to be $$46,606. However, the average pay ranges between $14.99 and $55.55 depending on a personal trainer's certifications, work experience, and specialization.
The UK
According to data reported by Glassdoor, the average personal trainer’s annual salary for an employed individual is £27,700 per year, topped by an additional compensation of £8,000. In popular areas like London, a personal trainer's income can go up to £41,000 per year as well.
Canada
Canada is reported to have a generous wage amount for personal trainers. According to CA Talent, the personal trainer's hourly cost is about CA$ 28.85, and the annual income goes up to CA$ 56,258. Cities like Vancouver can offer up to CA$ 36.33 per hour to personal trainers.
Australia
According to Indeed, the average income for a personal trainer in Australia is AU$ 81,122, with an impressive hourly pay of about AU$ 59.75. Another study by AU Talent suggests that personal trainers earn about AU$ 87,843 in Australia.
7+ factors that impact a personal trainer’s pay scale
After seeing the pay scale, you must be excited to start your career as a personal trainer. However, personal training and coaching is a competitive field, so be certain to have all the right cards up your sleeve before entering the market.
Results
Successful client results are the #1 factor driving up your earnings as a personal trainer. Whether you help your clients lose fat, gain muscle, or excel at a sport, the outcome needs to be authentic and achieved.
But here’s the big question: How do you showcase those results?
Sure, you can scribble progress notes in a journal or track them in a spreadsheet, but let’s be honest; those aren’t exactly the most efficient ways to impress potential clients. In fact, most personal trainers skip this step and don’t share results with their clients.
Sharing results will help you retain your clients and have them drive referrals to friends and family = more income for you.
Personal training apps can help you track each client’s progress using a customizable metric tracker, making it effortless to monitor their improvements over time. Even better? These records can be stored as real proof of your coaching success, which comes in handy when attracting new clients.
And here’s a game-changer— an app like EZbook lets you share a view-only link with clients so they can see their own progress. When people see real results, they are more likely to recommend you to their friends and family. EZbook also has a professional contact form you can use to drive up referrals from existing clients and get new leads from your website or social media.
Plus, analyzing these progress metrics allows you to fine-tune training programs, ensuring that clients continue seeing improvements. More satisfied clients mean better word-of-mouth marketing and, ultimately, higher earnings for you.
Looking for a spreadsheet to track the metrics and sessions? Check out the best workout tracker template in 2025 here!
Education
While a formal degree is not always required to become a personal trainer, having a strong educational foundation can set you apart.
Many trainers pursue degrees in personal training, fitness coaching, exercise science, or sports nutrition, which can give them a deeper understanding of human body structure, functions, and effective training methods.
Personal trainers or fitness coaches with a postgraduate or specialized degree in a fitness or biology field can work in more advanced positions. These roles tend to offer a higher personal trainer pay. Clients are more likely to pay premium rates for trainers with a higher level of education.
Certification
Certifications are essential for personal trainers, as they validate your knowledge and skills in the field. Popular certifications include those offered by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Niche certifications in areas like strength training, pre/postnatal fitness, or sports nutrition can further increase earning potential.
Higher-tier certifications and specializations can help you charge more for your services. Trainers with advanced certifications are often considered experts in their fields, which allows them to command higher rates.
Work hours
In the earlier part of the blog, you must have noticed that most personal trainers in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia charge their clients per hour or session. So, the number of hours you work per week directly influences your income.
Many personal trainers work flexible hours, but those who put in more hours—whether through multiple client sessions, group fitness classes, or extended workdays—tend to earn more.
The more clients you work with, the higher your earning potential. Personal trainers willing to work during peak times (early mornings and weekends) may see increased demand, which translates into higher earnings.
Work experience
Real-life personal training experience is one of the most important factors when it comes to pay scale. As you gain years of experience in the industry, you’ll likely build a loyal client base, learn more about the nuances of training, and become more efficient in your work.
Experienced trainers often have a higher earning potential, as they’ve honed their skills, established a solid reputation, and can charge more based on their expertise.
Location
As we have discussed earlier, where you work plays a huge role in how much you can earn. Urban areas and affluent neighborhoods tend to have higher-paying clients willing to invest in personal training.
Major cities like New York, London, and Vancouver offer more opportunities for personal trainers but also come with a higher cost of living. In contrast, rural areas may have fewer clients, but the cost of living is often lower.
Personal trainers in high-demand, urban, or wealthy areas charge more for personalized services. Location often dictates your client base, with trainers in larger cities earning higher salaries due to the abundance of potential clients.
Industry and Specialization
Different sectors of the fitness industry can offer varying earning opportunities. For example, personal trainers working in large commercial gyms may earn a base income with bonuses or commissions.
On the other hand, those who work independently or in specialized boutique fitness studios can set their own rates. Specializing in areas like sports-specific training, injury rehabilitation, or senior fitness can also help you command higher fees.
Trainers in niche markets or high-demand areas like sports performance or pre/postnatal fitness can charge higher rates due to the specialized skills required. Independent trainers working with higher-income clients who offer 1-on-1 sessions often see higher earnings.
Marketing
How you market yourself and build a personal brand has a significant impact on your income. Trainers who effectively promote their services online through social media, websites, or content creation (blogs, videos, etc.) can attract a larger and more diverse clientele.
A strong personal brand builds trust and visibility, making clients more likely to invest in your services. Personal trainers who utilize social media and online platforms effectively can create additional income streams through virtual sessions, partnerships, and product sales.
How do you maximize your income as a personal trainer?
We saved the best for the last! Let's see how you can make the most of your personal training skills and expertise.
Freelancing
Freelancing as a personal trainer offers one of the greatest earning potentials, as it allows you to set your own rates, work directly with clients, and avoid sharing earnings with a gym or studio.
As a freelancer, you’re in control of your income. You can increase your rates as your experience and client base grow, and you can work with clients in a way that best suits them.
Starting your own business
While starting a personal training or fitness business might seem like a big step, it can open several new opportunities for you. You can begin by forming a team of coaches who offer expertise in different niches like gym training, sports training, physiotherapy, etc.
Offering online and in-person client sessions can also be a fruitful way to boost your business revenue. As many clients may not be able to attend your sessions in person, your fitness business can reach out to them with online training, broadening your audience.
Your trainers can use a personal training app like EZbook to schedule sessions in a single click and create workout plans. Additionally, you log information about these sessions on your desktop and analyze how each trainer is performing.
Use a personal training app to manage maximum clients efficiently
Using an easy-to-use personal training app can take away most of your headaches as a personal trainer.
Managing your busy work, scheduling, and marking sessions on the go, and tracking client progress metrics according to their goals are a few examples of tasks that a personal training app like EZbook can take care of for you.
Plus, keeping up with multiple clients is tough, especially when they’re at different fitness levels. A personal training app allows you to log progress, set goals, and customize workout plans—all in a single platform.
Some other benefits that come along with it:
Automate scheduling & bookings: No more endless texting or double-booking issues. With EZbook, you can schedule sessions in a single click based on your availability, giving you more time to focus on coaching instead of admin work.
Track client progress in one place: Keeping up with multiple clients is tough, especially at different fitness levels. A personal training app allows you to log progress, set goals, and customize workout plans all in a single platform.
Seamless progress tracking and sharing: Track any metric you want with their ultra-flexible progress tracker. Plus, share view-only progress reports with clients so they can stay motivated and accountable, which means better retention for you.
Scalability without burnout: Managing more clients doesn’t have to mean working more hours. By automating tasks like scheduling and marking sessions, logging workout plans, and performance tracking, you can handle a larger client base while still delivering personalized attention.
Additionally, you can track your payments and revenue growth in the app. Without proper tracking, you cannot assess your financial progress as a personal trainer.
Gaining a specialization in a targeted fitness field
Specializing in a targeted fitness field can set you apart from other trainers and justify higher rates. Whether it’s injury rehabilitation, sports performance, or working with seniors, honing expertise in a niche allows you to offer tailored services that are in high demand.
Specialized personal trainers are able to charge more for their services because they have specific knowledge and skills that meet particular client needs. Clients who require targeted training are typically willing to pay a premium for expert advice.
Offering semi-private sessions
Offering semi-private sessions allows you to use your time efficiently and maximize work with more clients. Since these sessions are more affordable for clients than one-on-one training, they often attract more people – That means additional collective earnings!
You can also foster a sense of community among your clients, which can lead to better retention and a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Promote your semi-private sessions on social media or within your gym community. You can group clients based on similar fitness goals like weight loss, strength, or athletic performance.
As the demand for any particular batch increases, you can adjust the number of semi-private sessions you offer each week to maximize your income further.
Working additional shifts at the gym or studio
If you’re employed at a gym or fitness studio, picking up extra shifts is an effective way to boost your pay scale. This might involve leading group fitness classes, covering for a colleague, or offering personal training sessions during peak hours such as early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
Working extra shifts increases the number of clients you interact with, which can lead to more bookings and a more consistent income. Group fitness classes, in particular, allow you to train multiple people at once, which maximizes your earning potential during those busy hours.
Ask your gym or studio if there are opportunities for you to cover shifts, teach group classes, or add additional personal training hours during peak demand times. If you’re flexible with your schedule, you’ll likely be able to take advantage of these opportunities to earn more.
Wrapping Up
As we discuss the pay scale for independent and employed personal trainers, there is a reasonable difference. However, before you choose a path, consider every aspect of your personal training journey well.
While starting a personal training career might seem like the most challenging part, managing the duties of a personal trainer every day is not a piece of cake. You need excellent management skills or an awesome personal training app that does all the busy work for you.
So why not give an affordable personal training app like EZbook a shot to capture new prospects and boost your earnings? Start the free plan today!
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