What Are the Best Types of Fitness Jobs?

May 3, 2023 Adam

If you’re a fitness buff, honing your exquisite body probably feels like a full-time job. Between executing workouts, preparing nutritious meals, and planning for success, your mind is constantly thinking about health. If you’re doing all that anyway, why shouldn’t it be a full-time paid job?

Fitness is a growing industry, and fitness jobs are expanding daily. People in your community need your skills and passion to help them meet their goals so they can see their dreams come true. This is the perfect time to transition into a new career in the health and wellness space.

We’ve created this guide to introduce you to a few of the top-paying jobs in fitness. Continue reading to discover your new career and use your knowledge of the body to help others.

Personal Training

Do you remember what it was like when you were new to fitness? Every day you discovered something new about your body and what it took to care for it. As a personal trainer, it will be your job to guide others through the first leg of their unique fitness journey, sharing the tips you’ve learned.

Job responsibilities include:

Assessing new clients
Creating personalized exercise programs
Running one-on-one instructional sessions
Inspiring and motivating clients

You may have additional instructional or sales-related duties depending on your workplace setting. For example, you might also instruct a group fitness class or sell gym memberships. With that said, training roles are incredibly flexible, and some work at clients’ homes.

This is a reasonably high-paying position considering you do not need a college degree. It’s also an excellent stepping stone for students working through an education program. That said, certifications inspire confidence in clients, so consider looking into this personal trainer certification online.

Education Roles

Did a passionate health or physical education teacher inspire you during your childhood? You might consider stepping into that role and inspiring the next generation of students and school athletes.

You’ll need a minimum of an undergraduate degree in education and a state teaching license. In some states, you may be unable to specialize in health or physical education until the master’s level. In those cases, you can pursue an undergraduate degree in any subject and pursue education in graduate school.

Job responsibilities depend on your role but may include the following:

Teaching physical education or health classes to K-12 students
Maintaining a school gymnasium and all equipment
Writing common core aligned lesson plans
Coaching one or more after-school youth sports

This role is rewarding, with excellent benefits and a wide salary scale. Many educators experience high job satisfaction. Their skills are also transferable, and they may teach fitness classes outside the formal classroom.

Physical Therapist or PT Assistant

Physical Therapy is a medical career requiring advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology. They work alongside therapy assistants to help with rehabilitation and movement therapy. Their clients may be ill, injured, aged, or members of a disability group who need assistance with mobility.

To become a Physical Therapist, you must complete a doctoral program. Some students pursue a bachelor’s degree in another area and then apply directly to PT programs. Several expedited physical therapy programs allow undergraduates to earn a doctoral degree within six years of study.

Becoming a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) requires a lot less schooling. Most states require a two-year Associate’s Degree. You must also pass a licensing exam to begin working in the field.

Your job responsibilities will depend upon your workplace setting and your focus population. You might work in a clinic, hospital, or office. Some PTs who work with special needs clients do home visits or work in schools.

Ultimately, these are versatile and rewarding fitness careers for intelligent, driven individuals.

Nutritionist

Any true fitness buff knows that you are what you eat and that nutrition plays a significant role in health and wellness. A nutritionist helps clients understand the relationship between food and their overall health.

There are several types of jobs in the nutrition field. You might work with individuals pursuing weight loss, patients with new diagnoses, or people undergoing eating disorder treatment.

Some nutritionists work for large organizations that serve meals. Examples include schools, daycare centers, corporate cafeterias, and prisons.

Your job responsibilities might include:

Performing nutritional assessments
Creating personalized eating plans
Institutional menu planning
Providing dietary counseling
Patient education related to food restrictions and intolerances
Food preparation management

While you can become a nutritionist with an associate’s degree, the less education you have, the more experience you need to qualify. The average nutritionist has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition. You must also pass your state licensing examination before finding a job.

Facility Leadership

Gyms and health clubs are a $30 billion industry in the United States, and they require strong leadership to continue to grow and flourish. They need directors, managers, and other administrative leadership staff to function. Most of these roles require some sales or business acumen, but it’s possible to rise through the ranks and grow with a company.

In these fitness industry roles, you’ll be responsible for a team of trainers, instructors, and other staff. You will maintain a safe and welcoming environment for members and guests. Most individuals in these positions hold personal training certifications.

Put Your Passion Into These Fitness Jobs

Why should you have to save your passion for the early morning or after work hours when you can rise, shine, and focus on fitness? It’s time to reclaim your day job and look into one of the above fitness jobs. Choosing a career can be as simple as following your heart and using your skills to improve life for others.

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