ATTN: Personal Trainers - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

McDuffie · 05-27-2005, 03:15 PM

Working personal trainers: I have some questions for you:

1) Who are you certified with

2) Do you work at a mom and pop gym, a big commercial gym, your client's homes, your home or a combination of any or all of the above?

3) How much (gulp) money do you make?

4) How fulfilling is it?

5) Whatever else you want to talk about. Brag, please: by all means, brag about your job. Thanks

I am making a career change. I am currently awaiting the results form my personal trainer certification test. I have 6 months left on my current contract working for the state and afterwards, I will be very interested in learning as much as I can about the business before i jump in.

pocon1 · 05-27-2005, 07:27 PM

I was a personal trainer for the past eight years. I was originally certified through ACE, but my manager pushed me to get certified through NSPA, which is a DC regional certification company. So I did that. I also have a B.S. in physical education with a focus on wellness. My health club was part of the Sport & Health Clubs. We were the marquis club in the chain. Overall, business was good. I personally did ok, maxing out at around $48,000 my best year. Last year, one trainer made about 90,000 dollars at our club but he put in 50-60 hrs of training a week, seven days a week. My personal training clients eventually started dropping through attrition. One I had trained for eight years, and he was 81 when I left. But my manager and I did not get along very well. Fewer new people were coming through the door so it was hard to meet people through initial fitness orientations. As for the referrals she got, she tended to hold them for her favorite people. There were several of us who saw very few referrals over several years. BTW, this is not sour grapes, but my manager had been there for 15 years,and it was probably time for some new blood. Though my last year the program did make 1 million in training revenue. So she was not moving anywhere. But the program succeeded not because of her, but because many good trainers found a good source of revenue. She did not do a whole lot of management, just kept on hiring more people. More people means fewer clients for trainers, no full-time trainer status because all trainers end up part time, and no need to spend money on benefits or health care. Plus payouts are smaller because proportions are paid on hours worked per pay period.
I liked the work I liked working with the people. It was really sad to leave some of those people behind, but it was time to move on. plus, I had a great workout facility while I was there.

McDuffie · 05-28-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pocon1

I was a personal trainer for the past eight years. I was originally certified through ACE, but my manager pushed me to get certified through NSPA, which is a DC regional certification company. So I did that. I also have a B.S. in physical education with a focus on wellness. My health club was part of the Sport & Health Clubs. We were the marquis club in the chain. Overall, business was good. I personally did ok, maxing out at around $48,000 my best year. Last year, one trainer made about 90,000 dollars at our club but he put in 50-60 hrs of training a week, seven days a week. My personal training clients eventually started dropping through attrition. One I had trained for eight years, and he was 81 when I left. But my manager and I did not get along very well. Fewer new people were coming through the door so it was hard to meet people through initial fitness orientations. As for the referrals she got, she tended to hold them for her favorite people. There were several of us who saw very few referrals over several years. BTW, this is not sour grapes, but my manager had been there for 15 years,and it was probably time for some new blood. Though my last year the program did make 1 million in training revenue. So she was not moving anywhere. But the program succeeded not because of her, but because many good trainers found a good source of revenue. She did not do a whole lot of management, just kept on hiring more people. More people means fewer clients for trainers, no full-time trainer status because all trainers end up part time, and no need to spend money on benefits or health care. Plus payouts are smaller because proportions are paid on hours worked per pay period.
I liked the work I liked working with the people. It was really sad to leave some of those people behind, but it was time to move on. plus, I had a great workout facility while I was there.

Thanks a lot for your answer. A lot of the people taking this course with me are talking about how much more money they will make as a trainer, but these are guys who work at McDonalds or at a car wash or something. I am a journeyman marine electrician. My biggest money making year was two years ago when I made nearly $80 K, so I knew that this career change would mean
a pay cut for me. Despite the pay cut, I must do it because working on a ship is extremely dangerous. I have pressed my luck enough. After 18 years and no serious injuries, I am probably due for one soon.

Also, working on the ship, I cannot go to college. I am going to get a degree as a physical therapist. I tried to attend college while working on the ship, but my lay-off periods aren't long enough to even go to school one full semester.

If I may ask, what are you doing now?

05-27-2005, 03:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
McDuffie Tilted Location: McDuffie Co, GA	ATTN: Personal Trainers Working personal trainers: I have some questions for you: 1) Who are you certified with 2) Do you work at a mom and pop gym, a big commercial gym, your client's homes, your home or a combination of any or all of the above? 3) How much (gulp) money do you make? 4) How fulfilling is it? 5) Whatever else you want to talk about. Brag, please: by all means, brag about your job. Thanks I am making a career change. I am currently awaiting the results form my personal trainer certification test. I have 6 months left on my current contract working for the state and afterwards, I will be very interested in learning as much as I can about the business before i jump in. Last edited by McDuffie; 05-28-2005 at 05:32 AM..

05-27-2005, 07:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
pocon1 Banned	I was a personal trainer for the past eight years. I was originally certified through ACE, but my manager pushed me to get certified through NSPA, which is a DC regional certification company. So I did that. I also have a B.S. in physical education with a focus on wellness. My health club was part of the Sport & Health Clubs. We were the marquis club in the chain. Overall, business was good. I personally did ok, maxing out at around $48,000 my best year. Last year, one trainer made about 90,000 dollars at our club but he put in 50-60 hrs of training a week, seven days a week. My personal training clients eventually started dropping through attrition. One I had trained for eight years, and he was 81 when I left. But my manager and I did not get along very well. Fewer new people were coming through the door so it was hard to meet people through initial fitness orientations. As for the referrals she got, she tended to hold them for her favorite people. There were several of us who saw very few referrals over several years. BTW, this is not sour grapes, but my manager had been there for 15 years,and it was probably time for some new blood. Though my last year the program did make 1 million in training revenue. So she was not moving anywhere. But the program succeeded not because of her, but because many good trainers found a good source of revenue. She did not do a whole lot of management, just kept on hiring more people. More people means fewer clients for trainers, no full-time trainer status because all trainers end up part time, and no need to spend money on benefits or health care. Plus payouts are smaller because proportions are paid on hours worked per pay period. I liked the work I liked working with the people. It was really sad to leave some of those people behind, but it was time to move on. plus, I had a great workout facility while I was there.