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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Skill-Based WorkCareer Attribute
Strength weight trainers work with students on an individual basis and teach them how to build strength and muscle using specific exercises and weightlifting routines. They develop weight training routines for clients, assist clients by spotting them during weightlifting, and help make sure clients avoid injuries.
Recommended Schools
What is a Strength Weight Trainer?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in strength weight trainer roles:
- Market services to acquire new clients
- Discuss strength and weight needs and goals with clients
- Develop personalized strength training exercises, weightlifting routines, and diet plans for clients
- Observe, spot, and motivate clients during weightlifting sessions
- Alter training plans as students improve to best meet changing goals and needs
A Day in the Life
Strength weight trainers are personal trainers who specialize in working with clients who are more interested in developing strength and muscles than losing weight. There are many reasons why clients may want to engage in strength-specific training: they may need to be stronger or bigger to become better athletes, they may want to perform in weightlifting or bodybuilding competitions, or they may simply want to gain muscle to look better and have more self-confidence.
Whatever the client’s goals, the strength weight trainer works with the client to understand those goals and put together a strength training, bodybuilding, and weightlifting routine and plan for helping the client meet those goals. Plans are usually progressive and take into account a client’s current condition, as well as where they should be at different points along the journey. The strength weight trainer watches clients while they workout, acting as spotter when necessary, and helping avoid injury.
Some strength weight trainers work in gyms or fitness centers and work to gain clients by selling services to members of the gym. Others are self-employed and work with clients on a freelance basis. Freelance strength weight trainers must do a lot of administrative work on top or their training responsibilities to market their services and acquire new clients, to build portfolios of work that can be used to secure new contracts, and to bill clients and complete any necessary business or tax paperwork.
Typical Work Schedule
Strength weight trainers may work either part-time or full-time. Their hours may be irregular, as they’re commonly required to meet with clients outside of normal business hours on evenings or weekends. Self-employed strength weight trainers enjoy more flexibility and choice in their schedules than those that work for gyms or fitness centers. Gym-employed trainers commonly work dedicated shifts.
Typical Employers
Strength weight trainers are commonly employed by gyms and other fitness centers. Some may also be self-employed and offer strength weight training services to clients on a freelance basis.
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How To Become a Strength Weight Trainer
It’s possible to self-train and become a strength weight trainer with only a high school diploma, though most gyms and fitness centers require applicants to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Without a degree, you’ll need to be in excellent physical condition, to understand how strength training impacts overall health, and to know how to develop personalized training programs to meet different needs and goals. This is all possible without a college degree, but requires a significant amount of self-study.
Conversely, you may be better served to pursue 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 lift weights without injury, and how to teach bodybuilding to individuals with different needs. These degrees will qualify you to work as a strength weight trainer in a gym or fitness center. With experience in a gym, you’ll be better suited to move into self-employed strength training.
Another benefit of pursuing a college degree for aspiring self-employed strength weight trainers is that you’ll have the opportunity to take some general business and marketing courses as part of your general education requirements or electives. This can be beneficial when you move into operating your own strength training business because you’ll understand the basic practices for marketing your services to attract new clients, and run your business in a way that meets legal requirements and reduces risk.
Strength Weight Trainer 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 Strength Weight Trainer salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Strength Weight Trainer'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 Strength Weight Trainers
- 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 Strength Weight Trainer 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 Strength Weight Trainers
| 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% |
