How to Become a

24hr Fitness Instructor

The complete career guide to be a 24hr Fitness Instructor: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.

Why We Love It

  • $40,970
    Potential Avg. Salary
  • 8.4%
    Job Growth Rate
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook
  • Flexible Hours
    Career Attribute

24 Hour Fitness is a nationwide gym chain that offers fitness classes, gym equipment, and personal training to members around the clock. 24 Hour Fitness instructors lead gym members in yoga, aerobics, and other classes, and they also offer personalized training on an individual basis to gym members.

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What is a 24hr Fitness Instructor?

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in 24 Hour Fitness instructor roles:

  • Lead classes in dance, yoga, and other aerobics and strength-training exercises
  • Conduct individual training for members who’ve enrolled in personal training plans
  • Work the front desk at the gym, encouraging membership signups and conducting tours of the facility
  • Teach members how to perform exercises and use gym equipment correctly to avoid injury
  • Monitor member behavior in the gym and prevent disruptive or dangerous behaviors

A Day in the Life

24 Hour Fitness is a chain gym with locations throughout the U.S. It offers a variety of exercise benefits for individuals who are trying to lose weight, build muscle, or get in shape for a marathon or other event. The gym is open 24-hours a day, so members are able to access the equipment and facility at a time that’s most convenient for their schedules. Additionally, the gym also offers a variety of fitness classes and personal training services led by 24 Hour Fitness instructors.

Instructors at 24 Hour Fitness have a variety of responsibilities. They may lead groups of individuals in aerobics or fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, Pilates, spinning, CrossFit, or p90x, among others. Some 24 Hour Fitness instructors also conduct personal training with gym members. These instructors work with members on an individual basis, developing workout routines and diet plans that will help members achieve their specific goals. They also oversee workouts to make sure exercises are performed correctly.

In addition to teaching classes and offering personal training services, 24 Hour Fitness instructors also have administrative responsibilities to perform. They may have to work the front desk of the gym when not teaching, enrolling new members, upselling members into higher-access memberships, and conducting tours of the facility. Additionally, they watch over members while they exercise to ensure equipment is being used properly and no members are exhibiting disruptive or dangerous behaviors.

Typical Work Schedule

24 Hour Fitness instructors may work either part-time or full-time. They commonly work day shifts, evening shifts, and on weekends to accommodate members outside of normal business hours.

Projected Job Growth

Demand for exercise instructors of all types is expected to increase in the coming decade as more employers recognize the importance of physical health in overall wellbeing, offering paid gym memberships and other incentives to employees for participating in exercise programs.

Typical Employers

Instructors are employed by 24 Hour Fitness, but their experience as an instructor at this chain gym will help them qualify for open instructor and personal training positions at other gyms and fitness centers later in their careers if looking for a change in employment.

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How To Become a 24hr Fitness Instructor

At a minimum, 24 Hour Fitness instructors must have a high school diploma and several certifications. They must be certified in CPR, and they must also have a certification in using an automated external defibrillator (AED). This allows instructors to provide emergency care when required. Additionally, instructors will need to be certified to teach any classes or offer any personal training services. These certifications may come from a specific organization, like Zumba, or a certifying school like ACSM or ACE.

Conversely, aspiring 24 Hour Fitness instructors can pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a field like kinesiology or exercise fitness. These degrees qualify instructors to work as personal trainers as well as teach non-branded aerobics classes like spinning. By earning a degree, you can bypass earning a number of certificates for specializations, and you may also qualify to move into management positions with the company later in your career. You may also pursue CPR and AED certifications in college.

If you’re having a hard time getting your foot in the door as an instructor at 24 Hour Fitness, you may want to consider taking an ancillary position in sales or operations. By showing that you’re a dedicated employee with the right credentials in these positions, you may become first in line for a promotion to an instructor or personal trainer position when new positions open within your gym.


24hr Fitness Instructor Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$23,280

Average

$40,970

High Range

$70,180

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$11/hr

Average

$20/hr

High Range

$34/hr

How do 24hr Fitness Instructor salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, 24hr Fitness Instructor's can make an average annual salary of $40,970, or $20 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $23,280 or $11 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #511 Nationally for All Careers


Highest Education Among 24hr Fitness Instructors

  • 1.2%   Doctorate
  • 9.7%   Masters
  • 36.4%   Bachelors
  • 9.1%   Associates
  • 25%   College
  • 16.2%   High School
  • 2.4%   Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

279,100

2024 Est. Jobs

302,500

Job Growth Rate

8.4%

Est. New Jobs

23,400

How does 24hr Fitness Instructor job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 23,400 jobs for a total of 302,500 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 8.4% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #264 Nationally for All Careers


What Companies Employ The Most 24hr Fitness Instructors

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase
Fitness and recreational sports centers 161,800 14,300 14%
Civic and social organizations 34,000 400 0%
Self-employed workers 29,500 2,100 2%

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