Personal Trainer Salary Guide: How Much Do PT’s Earn?

Considering a career in the fitness industry? Or maybe you've got years of experience under your belt and you’re looking to level up. Either way, understanding your earning potential is key to shaping your career trajectory. In this article, we're shedding light on Personal Trainer (PT) salary ranges and sharing valuable insights to help you maximise your income.

What we’ll cover:

How much do Personal Trainers make?

Strategies for increasing Personal Trainer income

Advancing your career and earnings as a PT

Discover your earning potential with UNTIL

How much do Personal Trainers make?

• Personal trainers can make from anywhere between £15,000 - £60,000 a year. The average base salary for personal trainers is £34,000.

In London, the average base salary for a PT is around £34,000. On average, PTs can expect to earn between £15,000 and £60,000 a year. But this depends on a variety of factors, from the qualifications you’ve gained (are you level 2, 3 or 4?) to whether you’re self-employed or work for a gym.

Of course, Level 4 qualified PTs tend to earn more than Level 2 PTs, because they’ve spent longer honing their craft and growing their skill set. Similarly, the location of your work can also affect your salary, so if you’re based in a big city, you’ll probably earn more than if you worked in a rural area. (Although this isn’t always the case, as there might be greater demand in a rural area, especially for PTs with a niche skill set.)

Self-employed PTs usually earn more than those who work for a gym. This is because they’re free to set their own prices and can take on as many or as few clients as they like: you’re in charge of their own schedule. While this comes with freedom, it also means you’re not guaranteed a steady salary. If you work in a gym, however, you’re sure to get your base pay each month – you might even benefit from commission or bonuses as per your contract.

One of the joys of being a PT is that there are multiple career avenues available to you, so you can decide which works best for you.

Strategies for increasing your Personal Trainer income

Want to know how to make more money as a Personal Trainer? If you want to increase your Personal Trainer salary, there are plenty of ways to do so. Let’s take a look at some different options.

Specialising in niche markets

As with most careers, the more of a niche you fulfil, the more demand there’s likely to be for your services. And the more demand you have, the higher you can pitch your prices and inflate your Personal Trainer salary. Within the fitness industry, there are certain niches where you can typically earn higher rates.

For example, you might find your niche in working with athletes in sports performance. Professional sportspeople, such as footballers and rugby players, need to maintain stamina over a long period of time, and this kind of PT work requires a certain knowledge of the physical anatomy. It’s not just training to look good; it’s training for a very specific purpose.

Similarly, you might look to specialise in corrective exercise, a training strategy that helps to correct abnormal movements, muscle imbalances and compensations. Because this is a very specific area, not many PTs will have the skills required, which puts you in a competitive position, meaning you might be able to raise your rates.

Targeting specific client demographics

Targeting specific client demographics will help you to build a reputation for yourself as an expert in a niche and grow your Personal Trainer salary that way. You can create tailored fitness programmes that cater to a certain group of people that can be adapted to new clients with minimal effort.

For instance, let’s say you’re targeting post-natal women who have returned to work since having a baby. Maybe they have busy lives and not much time to exercise. Here, you can tailor a fitness regime to people who want to stay in shape but do it efficiently, while juggling their work and parental responsibilities.

Targeting athletes, for example, can also lead to higher-paying clients. Because their jobs require them to be in peak physical shape, splashing out on a PT is a no brainer, and they’re likely to have more regular sessions than the average person. According to this research, Personal Trainers who offer strength training or athlete-specific training are likely to earn the highest salaries.

Utilising online platforms

Ultimately, the more people who know about your services, the more money you can bring home each month. So broadening your reach is a good place to start.

Marketing and leveraging digital platforms is one way to expand your reach and increase your earning potential. Do you have a social profile on all of the key platforms? Do you keep these up to date with your prices, location and offering? Do you regularly share content to keep followers engaged and interested in what you can bring to the table?

Digital platforms also provide an opportunity for Personal Trainers to create and sell digital products to clients and potential customers. For example, you could build a range of workout plans, nutrition guides, eBooks or online courses to complement your in-person training and provide more of a holistic service. This not only provides you with extra income, but it can help to demonstrate your wide knowledge and showcase your expertise in more than just physical fitness. If you need a hand with building your website first, check out our tips on how to make a PT website.

To generate more passive income streams, you could think about launching a subscription-based model. This would allow you to build a loyal community of repeat clients while ensuring a steady stream of income each month. You could provide personalised coaching, run competitions to keep your community engaged and offer discounts and free trials to entice more potential clients.

Advancing your career and earnings as PT

Another way to boost your earning potential is through continued education and professional development. After all, there’s a reason why many people go on to do a masters after completing a degree – yes, because they’re passionate about their subject, but also because it has the potential to earn them more money in the future.

The highest qualification for a Personal Trainer is a Level 4. So if you haven't reached this yet, it might be worth continuing your learning to reach this level so you can start charging your clients more per session. As a highly experienced and qualified elite personal trainer, you can earn up to £100 an hour.

Beyond that, if obtaining advanced certifications and continuing your education in the fitness industry is something that appeals to you, there are plenty of options out there. Specialised certifications can enhance credibility, attract higher-paying clients, and justify increased rates. For example, you could take a course in managing back pain if you specialise in rehabilitation, or you could do a nutrition diploma if you’re working with people who are trying to lose weight and feel healthier. Take a look at these top courses for Personal Trainers if you need some inspiration.

Networking is another effective way to advance your Personal Trainer salary and career. Seeking mentorship within the fitness community and building long-lasting relationships with other industry professionals can lead to increased earning potential.

You never know which doors people can open for you – you might meet someone who knows a person who would really value your services and might be willing to pay more than your existing clients. Your network can also be a great source of ideas, giving you insights you might not otherwise have thought of. So it’s worth attending industry events, keeping in touch with colleagues and volunteering at community events to build your professional profile and grow your connections.

UNTIL provides unparalleled networking opportunities for Personal Trainers. Our clubs boast a supportive community of leading coaching, treatment and clinical professionals – over 300 of them, from PTs to physiotherapists and everything in between. Training your clients in our flexible, affordable workspace is a great way to meet and connect with like-minded professionals in your industry.

Discover your earning potential with UNTIL

Hopefully now you have a solid understanding of the key factors that could influence your salary, so you can take the necessary steps to boost it.

From exploring opportunities with private clients to utilising resources like online platforms and high-quality PT facilities at UNTIL, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your earning potential.

Try our state-of-the-art gym space at UNTIL and give your clients the treatment they deserve at a price you deserve.

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