Why We Love It
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$40,970Potential Avg. Salary
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8.4%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Dependable Daily WorkloadCareer Attribute
Aerobics instructors teach classes to groups of individuals who are interested in losing weight or improving/maintaining their cardiovascular health. They may teach a variety of classes, such as swimming or dancing, and they commonly teach multiple levels of courses for beginners up to experts.
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What is an Aerobics Instructor?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in aerobics instructor roles:
- Teach aerobics classes to individuals at different skills levels
- Choreograph routines using signature moves and placements, or use moves from directed styles
- Perform routines so that students can follow the instructor’s lead during classes
- Observe students during routines to offer advice or guidance on improvement
- Perform other responsibilities like signing up new members, marketing classes, or offering personal training sessions
A Day in the Life
Aerobics instructors teach classes that are designed to help individuals lose weight, maintain weight, or improve/sustain cardiovascular health. Aerobics instructors may specialize in teaching a specific type of class—such as Jazzercise, spinning, swimming, or Zumba—or they may teach a variety of different types of classes over the course of a week or month. Typically, aerobics instructors teach multiple levels of courses to cater to individuals at different stages, such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
During class, the aerobics instructor usually performs the routine along with the students so that students can watch the instructor to learn what moves to do and how to do them correctly. While performing the routine, the instructor must also observe the class and talk to them, offering advice, motivation, and direction. The instructor makes sure that exercises are being performed correctly so that students avoid injury, and gives guidance on how to move during exercises to avoid strains.
Depending on their employer, the aerobics instructor may also have responsibilities outside of teaching classes. Aerobics instructors who own their own studios need to perform general tasks related to running a business and marketing to attract new clients. For aerobics instructors who work in gyms, they may have responsibilities for working at a front desk, signing up new gym members, and providing tours of the facility. Additionally, some aerobics instructors may offer private instruction to individual clients.
Typical Work Schedule
Aerobics instructors may work either part-time or full-time schedules, and they commonly work during first shift, second shift, and on weekends when gyms and studios are the busiest.
Projected Job Growth
Demand for aerobics instructors 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
Aerobics instructors are commonly employed by gyms and other fitness centers. Some may also be self-employed and own their own studios, or may teach classes for other studio owners on a freelance basis.
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How To Become an Aerobics Instructor
There are a couple of paths you can take to become an aerobics instructor. The first is to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education. In these programs, you’ll learn about the importance of physical health, how to exercise without injury, and how to teach fitness to individuals with different needs—such as children or seniors. These degrees will qualify you to teach general aerobics classes and work as a personal trainer in a gym or fitness center.
Another potential path you could take would be to earn a certification to teach a specific field of aerobics, such as Jazzercise or Zumba. These styles are copyrighted, and to teach them, students must attend a training course offered exclusively by the copyright-holding organization. By completing the training course and covering any required training or franchising fees, you can become certified to teach that style either in your own studio or a studio/gym owned by another person or organization.
If you intend to operate your own studio, college coursework in business or marketing can be beneficial as well. Studio owners will need to be educated on tax topics, legal concerns and regulations, and hiring practices, so courses in business administration can be useful. Additionally, courses in marketing can help you promote your studio in the community and draw in new clients to fill your classes.
Aerobics 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
$23,280Average
$40,970High Range
$70,180National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$11/hrAverage
$20/hrHigh Range
$34/hrHow do Aerobics Instructor salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Aerobics 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
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming an Aerobics Instructor. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Aerobics 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
279,1002024 Est. Jobs
302,500Job Growth Rate
8.4%Est. New Jobs
23,400How does Aerobics 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 Aerobics 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% |
