21 Best Jobs To Keep You Fit & Healthy

If you’re looking for jobs that keep you fit and improve your mental well-being, there are numerous career options available to you. We’ll discuss the benefits of each one, the salary you can expect, as well as the qualifications you’ll need to pursue that career.

First, if you’re looking to enter the fitness industry then your journey starts with our Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma. You can learn more about this and the other fitness courses we offer by downloading our free course prospectus.

#1 - Personal Training Is One Of The Most Lucrative Careers That Can Keep You In Shape

Average Salary: £27,000

If the idea of writing programmes to help clients achieve their fitness goals inspires you, then becoming a personal trainer is a career worth considering. 

Your main goal will be to help improve clients’ health by assisting them with weight loss, building muscle or improving their physical endurance.

You’ll write bespoke programmes to guide them in these areas which are dependent on their level of experience, the number of sessions they require, and their personal goals.

You’ll also be completing low-intensity cardio by walking around the gym floor and demonstrating exercises at different areas of the gym to clients.

Pursuing a personal trainer career requires you to hold the following qualifications:

• Level 2 Gym Instructor
• Level 3 Personal Trainer

You can earn these qualifications by earning a L3 PT Diploma. These qualifications allow you to apply for positions from companies seeking applicants with these credentials. Alternatively, you can advertise your services to the public as a freelance PT.

If you were seeking employment with a leisure centre, you would be able to apply for this position at Barnsley Premier Leisure, which requires a qualified level 3 personal trainer:

Depending on your experience and the services you offer, becoming a personal trainer can be a lucrative profession. You could earn a personal training salary that averages £27,000.

Alternatively, you could earn up to £84,000 if you decide to pursue a career as a freelance PT giving you the freedom to set your pricing structure and hours of work.

#2 - Consider Becoming A Running Coach If You’re Looking For Jobs That Will Keep You Healthy

Average Salary: £22,000

Working as a running coach is a great profession if you want clients to improve their cardio and lose weight on their fitness journey with you.

Becoming a coach for running gives you the option to coach clients as individuals or in groups at different experience levels; from everyday running enthusiasts to Olympic athletes.

You can specialise in different areas such as on-track running coach, which includes:

• Sprints
• Middle and long distance
• Relay
• Hurdles

Alternatively, becoming an off-track running coach allows you to train in:

• Cross country
• Trail running
• Fell running
• Road running
• Marathon training

Writing tailored plans for different clients will help them improve their technique and balance, which overall, will help minimise their chances of getting injuries.

Whilst you’re running with your clients at these different intensity levels, you’ll become a better runner too, as you match the physical demands of a diverse client base.

If you’re considering becoming a running coach it’s important to become certified with a UK Athletics-accredited running coach qualification: 

This is the national governing body for athletics in the UK, and achieving a qualification through one of their courses improves your credibility with potential clients. 

Alongside this qualification, you’ll also need to understand how to write bespoke programmes which incorporate strength and conditioning

Completing a Personal Training Diploma will teach you how to tailor sessions to each client’s individual needs to achieve goals, such as correcting muscle imbalances and improving running techniques.

This qualification will increase your employability because you’ll have professional training to help clients achieve their results.

It also provides you with the opportunity to earn a modest income of £22,000 which offers a great introduction to the fitness industry.

#3 - Becoming A Yoga Teacher Is An Ideal Fit Career For Yoga Lovers

Average Salary: £38,414

A career teaching yoga is a great way to improve your fitness. Whilst demonstrating poses, you’ll be improving your client’s posture and balance as well as your own.

It’s also a lucrative career path with the average salary for a full-time worker in the UK being £38,414, according to data gathered by Glassdoor.

This is because over time your experience, skills and reputation will allow you to charge a higher rate for your premium and make you an attractive teacher for future clients.

Becoming a yoga teacher will also allow you to progress in the industry, and pursue other opportunities.

For example, if you’re wanting to expand your career beyond employment in a studio, you may want to consider opening a studio.

Although this requires business dedication and a significant financial investment, you’ll feel a great sense of achievement as a yoga studio owner. 

This will allow you to set your working hours, and gives you the creative licence to teach the classes that you love.

Alternatively, you could also choose to broaden your horizons and work as a yoga instructor abroad, similar to this position advertised on Recruit:

You could also choose to become a yoga teacher in Australia and share your passion with other yoga enthusiasts across the globe. 

To become a yoga instructor, you’ll first need to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga. 

This course will help you learn how to plan and deliver safe and effective yoga classes, taking into account special populations such as the elderly and those with disabilities.

Once you’ve gained this qualification, you may choose to complete a Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Yoga to expand your skills and knowledge.

OriGym’s Level 4 course allows you to specialise in one of four disciplines, to develop your niche in a specific area of yoga, such as Hatha and Ashtanga.

This will allow you to attract new clients and increase your earning potential as you specialise in new areas of yoga and expand your knowledge of the discipline.

#4 - Consider Lifeguarding If You Enjoy Swimming And Are Looking For Careers That Keep You Fit

Average Salary: £20,000

Becoming a lifeguard will not only keep you fit but it is a highly fulfilling and active career for those who are interested in learning how to save lives.

A lifeguard has a fast-paced profession that requires a good level of physical fitness, with quick reflexes to ensure that you can react quickly when danger strikes.

Depending on whether you’d like to work at a pool or a beach, there are two different routes that you can take to become a lifeguard.

If you’d prefer to work as a pool lifeguard, you’ll need to gain a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) or a Level 2 Award for Pool Lifeguard:

To enrol on either course, you’ll need to be able to perform physical activities such as diving to the surface of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds.

If you want to work on the beach, you’ll need to gain a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification:

This course requires you to be able to complete a 400-metre swim in under 8 minutes and climb out of deep water unaided.

Practising these skills as a lifeguard will allow you to be active daily and also improve your fitness levels over time.

Working as a lifeguard can be a great window into a physically demanding role with an earning potential of £20,000

#5 - Becoming a Retail Assistant Is Another of the Best Jobs That Keep You Healthy

Average Salary: £19,000

Working as a retail assistant is a great non-office job if you’re looking to burn calories, approximately 318 are burnt per hour in this profession.

No qualifications are required to become a retail assistant, and with an average annual salary of £19,000, it’s a great career to improve your health. 

If you enjoy working on your feet and possess great communication skills, then this position will help improve your fitness.

It can be a physically demanding job as it's common to work an 8-hour shift on your feet all day. Some of the duties that you may be expected to perform on a normal working day include:

• Helping customers find particular items
• Advising customers and handling complaints
• Upselling and promoting products
• Handing returns and processing refunds
• Maintaining a tidy store

All of these responsibilities require both a good level of cardiovascular and muscular strength and endurance, which you’ll build on the longer you work in your role.

#6 - Try Gym Instructing If You Enjoy Fitness And Are Looking For a Job That Keeps You Fit In The UK

Average Salary: £23,000

Becoming a fitness instructor is a great way to find work in the fitness industry, they work within a variety of different sporting locations such as gyms and health centres. Your role will vary daily which will keep you working on your feet most of the day.

You’ll be required to spend time on the gym floor, carrying out duties such as: 

• Advising members on how to use weights and machines
• Performing gym inductions
• Keeping the facility clean
• Reporting any repairs to management 
• Teaching group classes

This makes it one of the best sports fitness roles to keep you healthy as you demonstrate exercises and spend most of your working day staying active. 

The classes you teach can vary based on the facility’s timetable, your experience or any additional qualifications you may have.

To become a gym instructor you’ll need to a Level 2 qualification which you can by completing a Level 3 PT Diploma. This will provide you with an understanding of what you can do as a gym instructor.

Becoming a fitness instructor is also an ideal career path if you’re looking for progression opportunities, and the ability to increase your earning potential.

You could go on to become a qualified personal trainer which is one of the highest-paying fitness jobs and has better job prospects.

You could also progress up the career ladder to the role of a gym manager, where you’d be required to manage a team of instructors and PTs working at your gym.

#7 - Strength and Conditioning Coaching Is One of the Most Specialised Fit Careers

Average Salary: £25,000

Strength and conditioning coaches deliver a custom service, working with athletes or clients who have more specific performance goals; such as building strength and endurance.

Some of the duties that a strength and conditioning coach typically performs include:

• Developing workout schedules and programmes 
• One-to-one and group training sessions
• Improving movement and running techniques
• Monitoring progress
• Monitoring the well-being of their clients
• Liaising with medical staff to rehabilitate athletes

Employment as an S&C coach allows you to work in a variety of different settings and clients, ranging from universities to professional sports teams and Olympic athletes!

You could also work in gyms and fitness centres where many average gym-goers are looking for ways to improve their performance.

The career can help you build your muscular strength as you demonstrate techniques with your clients.

Employers now look for personal trainers with Strength and Conditioning qualifications to meet the needs of their members, as demonstrated by this Wellington Wellbeing job advert:

The ultimate goal of most coaches is to work with professional athletes, which is a highly rewarding career option, with a potential salary of £43,000 if you’re a coach working in London.

So, if you’re looking for jobs that keep you fit and pay well, becoming a strength and conditioning coach could be the career for you.

#8 - Consider Becoming A Tour Guide If You’re Searching For Interesting Careers That Keep You Fit

Average Salary: £24,000

If you have expertise in a particular location or landmark, then consider putting your knowledge to use and becoming a tour guide.

Tour guides provide tourists with information on the location’s history, architecture and purpose. You’ll be expected to answer questions on the site or area that you’re working in!

The job will require you to spend most of the working day outdoors which will be great for your physical and mental well-being.

Holding a form of accreditation increases your chances of success in this profession. The Institute of Tourist Guiding is the regulatory body for the industry, providing three levels of certification:

It’s important to note that, if they want to become blue badge accredited, tour guides have to pass a two-year course approved by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

#9 - Les Mills Is One Of The Best Healthy Careers For A Budding Fitness Instructor

Average Salary: £25,000

If you love training and motivating groups, then becoming a Les Mills instructor is a great career path that can keep you healthy too!

The workouts are intensive, requiring you to be fit enough to carry out the workouts for your clients.

The company operates worldwide and delivers a variety of different classes, including: 

• BODYPUMP
• BODYATTACK
• BODYCOMBAT
• RPM
• GRIT
• SH’BAM

What makes Les Mills instructors so unique compared to regular group fitness instructors is that they are taught to memorise every step of their class.

This gives them an in-depth understanding of how each movement flows into the next and how this may affect each of their class members’ bodies.

To work for Les Mills you’ll need to hold a Level 3 PT Diploma but also an official Les Mills qualification by attending an Initial Training event.

The training ensures clients receive the same workout experience, regardless of their location which upholds the great reputation of the Les Mills brand!

Qualified Les Mills instructors also have other career opportunities they can pursue thanks to the gym chains the company is affiliated with.

If you were a fitness instructor with a Les Mills qualification, you could apply for this job at Bannatyne:

The job allows you to earn up to £32,000 a year depending, so if you enjoy training groups and have high levels of fitness then becoming a Les Mills’ instructor is a great job to stay in shape.

#10 - Firefighting Is One Of The Most Rewarding Jobs That Will Keep You Healthy

Average Salary: £27,000

Firefighters have one of the most labour-intensive jobs, burning 634 calories per hour. They need high levels of endurance and cardiovascular fitness, especially when running into and pulling people out of buildings.

When they’re not responding to emergencies, they also practice drills to keep up training and fitness.

They will therefore need to undergo regular resistance training sessions, making this one of the best and most rewarding jobs that keep you fit (UK).

If you’re wondering how to become a firefighter, you could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services, which will prepare you for a career in uniformed public services:

However, this is not a requirement, and you can simply apply directly to join your local fire service as demonstrated by this job advert for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Services:

Each fire service has its entry requirements but typically they will ask applicants to have:

• GCSEs in English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications
• Pass number and reading tests set by the fire service
• Pass the online test which assesses your judgement ability

You’ll then have an interview and be asked to complete practical selection tests to prove that you’re physically capable of performing the firefighter role.

This is a highly lucrative position with an average salary of £27,000 for people looking to make a positive impact in their community but also stay healthy.

#11 Exercise to Music Instructing Is One of the Most Fun and Rewarding Jobs That Keep You Fit

Average Salary: £24,000

It’s a great career choice to become an Exercise to Music (ETM) instructor. You can lead group fitness classes that prompt class members to exercise to the beat of the music. 

There are several fitness classes that ETM instructors can teach, including:

• Zumba
• Legs, Bums, and Tums
• Body Conditioning
• Aerobics
• Les Mills SH’BAM

Some of these attract clients with specific goals, such as losing weight or toning muscle, whereas others are simply aimed at moving to the rhythm and having some fun.

Since you’ll be instructing clients on how to perform these movements, you’ll also be burning calories and toning your physique too!

Certain classes may require you to set your own choreography, whereas others will ask you to deliver pre-set routines. 

You’ll need a good level of music knowledge to pursue this career, different class types require you to adapt choreography to match the tempo of the music that is played. 

The role requires versatility, in some classes you’ll set your own choreography, whereas others will ask you to deliver pre-set routines. 

OriGym’s Level 2 Exercise to Music qualification can help you become an ETM instructor which takes just 8 weeks to complete!  

You’ll develop knowledge of human anatomy and adapt your classes to be inclusive of special populations.

It’s also beneficial to secure a Level 3 PT Diploma as employers can favour applicants who can apply their knowledge of fitness to other areas of their business.

For example, you may be required to teach other group fitness classes alongside ETM, such as kettlebells, circuit training, and strength and conditioning, as shown in the Major Recruitment advert below:

This is a great career to help you burn calories in a fun working environment and offers a respectable average salary of £24,000.

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#12 - Events Planning is Another of the Best Jobs That Will Keep You Healthy and Moving All Day

Average Salary: £26,000

Event planners earn an average salary of £26,000 to organise parties, weddings, corporate functions, conferences, and other business events too.

If you choose to pursue this career path you’ll be able to burn a lot of calories, walking around an event to make sure everything is running smoothly.

You’ll assist with setting up decorating and moving seating arrangements, along with clearing tables during and after the event.

The wide variety of events, the range of people you’ll meet, and the responsibilities you’ll have as an event planner make it a fast-paced and diverse career opportunity.

There isn’t an essential degree for this profession, but you may find it advantageous to have a qualification in a relevant field such as:

• Events management
• Business studies
• Marketing and communications 
• Leisure and tourism

Alternatively, you could gain experience in marketing or hospitality. These serve as a networking opportunity to build connections and become an events planner.

Once you’ve gained some experience, you can then apply for entry-level events planner, coordinator, or assistant roles on job boards such as Indeed.

#13 - Jobs That Keep You Fit Such As Exercise Referral Are Highly Rewarding

Average Salary: £25,000

Exercise referral specialists earn an average salary of £25,000 to help patients who have chronic illnesses or medical conditions with their rehabilitation and recovery.

The exercise referral process involves patients being referred to a specialist by a GP or medical professional to help to improve their health and benefit their lifestyle through exercise.

The exercise referral specialist will design a fitness programme based on each patient’s condition. This can boost your mental health as you assist people with their recovery. 

Creating training programmes for referral patients is difficult compared to standard PT clients. Becoming an exercise referral specialist is a highly rewarding career option.

You can help patients with long-term health issues that improve their quality of life. Alongside aesthetic goals, you’ll be working with clients who require your help such as:

• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity

If you’re not already a qualified fitness instructor, you’ll need to take a Level 2 course before you can become an exercise referral specialist.

You can then enrol on a Level 3 Exercise Referral course, which will help you to develop the necessary skills to take on patients living with and recovering from long-term health issues.

#14 - Gardening Allows You To Spend Time Outdoors And Is One Of The Best Jobs To Keep You Fit

Average Salary: £22,000

Becoming a gardener is a perfect role for someone looking to earn an average salary of £22,000 for anyone who has green fingers and is looking for a job that keeps them fit.

Gardeners keep on top of cutting lawns, shrubs, and trees, to ensure that they don’t become overgrown.

This role requires a great deal of physical endurance and cardiovascular fitness, as gardeners spend plenty of time on their feet either standing, walking, or kneeling.

A 2019 study found that spending at least 120 minutes per week outside contributes significantly to improved health and well-being.

To pursue a career in gardening, you should qualify as a gardening-related subject, which is often a requirement for employers. This includes completing courses such as:

• Level 1 Certificate in Horticulture Skills
• Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture and Amenity Horticulture
• Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture

This will help you find employment at gardening/landscaping companies or become a self-employed gardener working for several clients at a time. 

#15 - Try Bootcamp Instructing For A Fast-Paced Career That Keeps You In Shape

Average Salary: £24,000

Bootcamps consist of intensive military-style training, designed to push the limits of exercise enthusiasts with plenty of boot camp ideas for personal trainers to consider.

The aim of a boot camp is typically to promote clients’ fat loss and improve their strength and cardiovascular fitness.

You’ll feel your physical fitness improve as you demonstrate exercises and walk around the group to assist your clients.

This is a rewarding opportunity that allows you to see your clients making regular progress but it's also incredibly lucrative in terms of your earning potential with a £24,000 average salary.

This is because bootcamps are often organised in 6-to-8-week periods, such as the one below from Evolve Fitness:

This means that you can sell 6 weeks’ worth of sessions in one package for clients, helping you generate a regular cash flow and making your boot camp instructor career a potentially lucrative one! 

If we’ve convinced you that becoming a boot camp instructor is one of the most ideal fit careers for you, then you’ll need to complete a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma that will help you plan and run effective boot camp sessions for people with different physical abilities.

#16 - Dog Walking Is An Unexpectedly Lucrative Job That Keeps You Fit and Pays Well

Average Salary: £26,000

Becoming a dog walker is a perfect career for animal lovers wanting to stay in shape because they can complete 4,000 steps during an average walk.

This will also benefit your mental health as your working environment will consist of the outdoors surrounded by nature.

Along with its health benefits to keep you fit, dog walking can be a financially rewarding career. You can earn an average salary of £26,000 by taking busy professionals’ pets on multiple walks a day. 

Most dog walkers work on a self-employed basis, so the best way of gaining clients is through your current clients' word-of-mouth promotion.

Another option is to market yourself on pet care websites such as Tailster to help local dog owners find you:

You could also put up flyers and distribute leaflets in parks, community centres, and veterinary surgeries to promote yourself. 

If you love animals and want to keep your physical and mental health in shape, then becoming a dog walker might be the career for you.

#17 - Careers That Keep You In Shape Include Teaching Boxercise

Average Salary: £24,000

If you would like to become a boxercise instructor, it’s important to know that it’s a lucrative career opportunity, with over 1.2 million people in the UK engaged in the sport.

It’s a great sport to help clients learn hooks, uppercuts and swoops in a circuit-style workout. This will help your clients: 

• Build upper body and core strength
• Increase endurance and cardiovascular fitness
• Improve motor skills and coordination
• Improve mental agility and decision-making skills
• Stress-relieve

Your physical health and reflexes will also improve as you instruct clients on how to perform boxing techniques.

If you’re interested in running your own Boxercise sessions, you’ll first need to gain a Level 2 qualification by completing a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma.

This is the minimum requirement to work in any gym or health club, as well as being required to enrol on a Boxercise course, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Once completed, you’ll then need to take an Official Boxercise Instructor Training Course to be qualified to teach under their trademarked brand name:

This ensures that every Boxercise instructor meets the standards set by the brand and that every Boxercise attendee gets the same high-quality class experience.

#18 - Become A Postal Delivery Worker If You’re Looking For Fit Careers To Boost Your Step Count

Average Salary: £25,000

Working as a postal delivery means you’ll always be in the great outdoors delivering letters and parcels to millions across the UK.

Postal delivery workers are constantly on the move, and can burn up to 1,500 calories a day, walking several miles in a single shift.

This not only keeps them healthy but also boosts their mental health by interacting with people from their community.

They also spend time loading parcels at processing centres which improves muscular strength because of its physical demands.

No qualifications or experience are needed as you’ll be trained on the job, making this one of the easiest-fit careers to get into.

To find the postal delivery role for you, simply apply on the Royal Mail Website, where you can browse job opportunities in your local area.

#19 - Crossfit Coaching Is Another Of The Most Popular Jobs That Keep You Fit

Average Salary: £29,000

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning workout made up of functional squatting, pulling and pushing movements.

This can consist of helping people with weight loss, physical endurance and flexibility. There are 14,000 CrossFit gyms across 155 countries.

CrossFit workouts have become incredibly popular over the past few years for their focus on performance with Workout of the Day (WOD) results posted on social media to motivate CrossFitters.

Some of the benefits to you of becoming a CrossFit coach include:

• Being able to work flexible hours
• Enjoying free gym membership
• Having the freedom to be your boss and open a CrossFit box
• Introducing new people to performance-based fitness
• Helping to transform people’s lives through fitness

To earn a Crossfit coach’s average salary of £29,000, you’ll need to gain an Official Crossfit Level 1 Trainer Certificate:

This introduces you to the mechanics and movements of CrossFit. After you’ve accumulated 6 months of experience, you can then go on to complete a Level 2 Certificate course, which builds on those foundational skills.

When you’re qualified, you can either find a salaried position at your local CrossFit box or even go on to open your own CrossFit gym further down the line!

#20 - Try Sports Massage If You’re Looking For Healthy Careers Where You Can Work With Athletes

Average Salary: £28,000

To begin practising as a sports massage therapist, you’ll need to complete a Level 3 Sports Massage Training course.

Sports massage therapy can help keep you in shape with the many different duties you’ll have to carry out.

Current SMT employees are responsible for:

• Assessing injuries

• Conducting postural assessments
• Rehabilitating clients
• Designing warm-ups for athletes
• Advising clients on stretches 

This will help clients when delivering pre-and post-event massages. You will benefit from having strength in your upper body muscles, particularly when performing rougher Tapotement massage techniques.

This will help you practice your resistance training skills; completing warm-ups, cool-downs, and a good stretching routine!

You can expect to earn an average salary of £28,000 in this position or you can set higher rates for specialised services. Working with an athlete requires a more tailored service than if you were simply working in a local fitness centre.

In this scenario, you’ll need to provide more in-depth knowledge to ensure that the athlete can perform at their best, which you’ll develop the further you progress in your career.

#21 - Consider Becoming A Pilates Instructor If You’re Looking For Healthy Careers 

Average Salary: £26,000

Pilates is an ideal career choice for those wanting to help others improve their fitness and flexibility and with an average salary of £26,000, it is a career worth considering.

You can help those recovering from injuries, muscle weaknesses, or lower back pain, making it one of the most rewarding job roles on our list.

Pursuing a career as a Pilates instructor requires a lot of physical hands-on work, so you must have a passion for guiding, motivating, and helping others to improve their technique.

Some of your duties as a Pilates teacher would include:

• Breaking down exercises to ensure that they can be practised by all abilities
• Correcting your clients’ form
• Helping clients to improve flexibility
• Increasing balance and coordination skills of clients

Since this is a physical practice, it’s also important to maintain your fitness levels, to ensure that you can safely and effectively demonstrate all exercises to your class members.

To kickstart your career, you’ll first need to gain a Level 2 qualification, which you can earn with a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma.

The diploma will teach you how to effectively plan and carry out group fitness classes, taking into consideration all abilities and experience levels.

Once completed, there’s a wide range of lucrative career progression options for Pilates teachers looking to increase their skill set, develop more experience, and generate higher revenue!

Before You Go!

After reading this article, we hope you have a better understanding of the career you would like to pursue for a healthier lifestyle. 

Remember, all exercise-related careers start with a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma, which can help you secure a job within the fitness industry.

You can also enrol on additional courses we provide to expand your skill set simply by downloading our complete course prospectus.