Personal Training Career Options

When it comes to personal training career options, those who are new to the industry may wrongly assume that they're limited to a few different roles. This article explores the many different avenues you can explore, spanning topics such as: 

• Contracted vs Freelance Personal Training Career Options
• Different Personal Trainer Career Options 
• What Qualifications Do You Need To Become a Personal Trainer? 
• FAQ

Before we continue, you can kickstart your career as a PT with OriGym’s personal training diploma where you'll learn from industry-leading professionals who care about your success. Alternatively, you can check out our FREE comprehensive course prospectus in order to learn about every course we provide.

Contracted vs Freelance Personal Training Career Options

Once you qualify to become a personal trainer there are many different career options you can explore. But, in order to gain a better understanding of how these roles operate, we must first look at the differences between freelance and contracted trainers.

We must stress that there is no one definitive answer as to which is better than the other, this is all down to personal preference.

Some trainers will enjoy the stability of working under contracted circumstances, while others may enjoy the financial benefits of going freelance once they have built up a big enough client base, but more on that later.

What’s more, there are several different off-shoots to both contracted and freelance roles, all of which you can shape and mend to your own personal preference.

Contracted Personal Trainers 

In terms of personal trainer career options, for many, this is the dream role. Contracted trainers will be working within a gym or fitness centre and will provide sessions to the company's pre-existing clients.

Working within this role may also see you performing some mundane tasks outside of your daily sessions. This can involve leading group-based classes, cleaning gym equipment, performing inductions, and maybe even some admin work.

Being in a contracted role can provide you with a rigid work environment and a regular salary. If you’re someone who thrives under structure and routines, then this will be the job route for you.

Freelance Personal Trainers 

Freelance personal trainer career options will grant you a significantly greater sense of freedom, as you will typically be in charge of your own working hours.

With freelance personal trainer career options, you literally take your business in any direction you deem fit. If you wish to pursue group training, one-to-one training, or boot camps, the choice is entirely yours. 

On average, freelance trainers earn more than contracted personal trainers per year. However, with freelance roles comes a risk of financial instability.

Is There Any Crossover?

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding personal training career options is that there is no crossover between freelance and contracted job roles. 

This is not the case, as many gyms and fitness centres will allow their employees to develop their own list of personal clients. However, this won’t come free of charge, as gyms will ask these trainers to pay rent for the rooms and equipment they use. 

So, therefore it is possible to work both freelance and contracted roles, you don’t need to be confined to one specific role.

The lines between freelance and contracted are no longer as defining or constraining. There are so many different personal trainer career options available today, you’re guaranteed to find one that is perfectly appealing to you.  

10 Different Personal Training Career Options  

Within this section, we'll dissect ten different personal trainer career options, as well as the pros and cons of each specific role.

#1 - Contracted Personal Trainers in Gyms 

In this job role you will receive a set salary every month, but this particular option isn’t as commonly available as you may think. Only a handful of gyms across the UK offer this opportunity, with David Lloyd, Virgin Active and Nuffield Health being just three examples. 

These gyms pay a steady rate because they are more focused on the highest calibre of service for their clients. If you want to find out more about PT career options of this kind, check out our list of the 9 best gyms to work for as a personal trainer. 

When comparing this role to other personal trainer career options, the most appealing aspect is usually the steady rate of pay. 

On average, trainers outside of London can expect to earn £17-18K per annum, whereas London-based trainers can expect to earn £20-21K per annum.

Don’t worry about this slight gap in pay, as many gyms often provide their contracted trainers with a commission based on how many clients they acquire. But how do you acquire these commissions in the first place?

Well, usually the gyms will set targets with newcomers initially having lower targets before gradually increasing. This money will go back to the gym first, which will then pay you based on your percentage commission. 

In terms of the pros of this job, by far security is the greatest aspect. Whilst the financial security of a regular salary will pay your bills, the contracted role will also allow you to develop your craft further in a supportive environment. 

What’s more, because these gyms are invested in providing the best service for the clients they will typically offer to support you through further qualifications, in order to ensure you’re the best in your industry. 

For example, you could push the knowledge acquired in your Level 3 Personal Training certificate even further by earning a Level 4 Personal Training qualification. 

However, in terms of the potential cons of this job role, the primary example is that 50% of your earnings will go to the gym. 

This won’t affect your overall earnings if you have a handful of clients, but if you have a significant amount you may be losing money and would be better off going freelance. 

The second downside of this job role is the structured nature, which may not be suited to certain individuals. If you’re a new trainer you could be given the worst shifts, and likely the worst tasks, such as cleaning gym equipment. This is a factor which may put many people off.

That being said, if you are someone who thrives in a structured environment, this role would be a great fit for you.

#2 - Contracted Trainer With Other Institutions 

Out of all the personal training career options to appear on our list, this role arguably receives the least amount of attention. 

Many aspiring personal trainers aren’t aware that you can be offered a contracted position within institutions such as schools, event companies, health care institutions, and insurance brokers. 

A well-known example of a company that operates in this manner is BUPA, which regularly hires trainers to aid in the recovery of their patients. Another would be charity obstacle races, which will hire trainers to provide warm-ups and cool-downs for their races.

It may be difficult to find work initially in this particular role, but what you will find is that it can pay very well, usually offering up to £30-40 per hour, depending on which company you work with.

A benefit of this role is that once you are in this system you are likely to receive other work too, as these companies will often use the same trainers for multiple events.

Other career paths may provide a greater sense of stability, but working in this sector would allow you to work for organisations such as the NHS. If you choose to pursue this particular career you would be helping to create training programs that would benefit the sick and injured as an exercise referral specialist. 

In order to provide our readers with more context, please refer to the job description screenshot above. Here you will be able to see what roles and responsibilities are expected of you when operating in this job role. 

If working as a contracted trainer for organisations such as the NHS interests you, then you should enroll onto our exercise referral course. 

Following the completion of this certification, you will be recognised by the fitness industry as an exercise referral specialist and will be able to apply for jobs such as the one featured above.

#3 - Working Part Salaried/Part Freelance 

As promised, we will now discuss personal trainer career options that combine both freelance and contracted responsibilities.

If you decide to pursue this career path you will be working part-time hours, usually extending between 12-24 hours per week. With the rest of your time, you can generate a list of clients to attend personal training sessions at the gym.

The gym will usually charge you in order to use the equipment and rooms, think of this like paying rent. Many popular chains such as PureGym, Sports Direct, and Everlast all operate under this model. 

On average, during your contracted hours you will earn minimum wage. However, what you earn from your freelance work is entirely dependent on you.

If you know that you can earn more money by hosting group classes rather than one-to-one sessions, then be sure to pack your schedule with the thing that will earn you more money. 

As we focus on differing personal trainer career options, the concept of security will often arise, and the fact that this job provides financial security will be a relief for many. 

You will still be able to pay your bills with your contracted hours, all whilst still having the opportunity to develop your freelance craft.

But what if you can’t get clients? Well, that’s not a concern as one of the other benefits of this role is that you will only pay the gym once you gain clients. 

However, many trainers view the minimum wage hours to be a negative aspect of the job. What’s more, you don’t get to decide which hours you’re contracted to work, meaning that your freelance hours could be placed at an inconvenient time for potential clients.

This particular career option provides the best of both worlds, if you’re looking to develop your freelance craft with a little added support, then this will be the perfect job role for you.

#4 - Working at a Gym as a Freelancer 

This kind of personal training career option has been around since the late 1980s and operates on a rent-based system. In this job role, you will source your own clients and pay rent to the gym for using its location and resources.

A typical rent structure can be anywhere between £400-600 outside of London. However, London prices can vary depending on where the gym is located, ranging from anywhere between £600-1,200. 

There are two small factors to consider before pursuing this particular freelance opportunity, the first being that gyms will typically ask you to advertise for them. This could range from anything from posting on your social media pages to word of mouth. 

You will also have to pay an annual license fee, which can cost anywhere between £200-350 a year. 

This fee should cover you for everything from uniform, insurance and CPD training. However, please be aware that every gym may have its own system, so be sure to check what your license fee will cover when signing your rent agreement.

This may sound like a lot of money, but don’t let this deter you. Many gyms will give you free rent for 2-3 months, before transitioning onto half rent and then finally requiring full rent. This gives you plenty of time to find clients and build a good foundation of security. 

So, what are the pros of this particular personal trainer career option? The biggest pro is that you can significantly increase your earning potential and take all the money for yourself, with successful trainers in this sector earning up to six figures. 

Secondly, you get to be your own boss with no obligations to work set hours or with certain clients. 

This is a great opportunity for younger people who are studying or working part-time. For further advice on how to make this schedule work for you check this out and learn how to become a part-time personal trainer. 

However, when it comes to the negative aspects of this job we must acknowledge that building a client base isn’t easy. 

It takes time to develop a list of dedicated clients, and unfortunately the rate at which the full rent starts may lead to money issues for some trainers. 

What’s more, you need to be aware of other trainers at the same location. Competition can be rife, and if someone is more experienced, well-known or is offering a cheaper rate than you, then you may find clients defecting to other trainers. 

#5 - Freelancing From Private Studios 

If you have achieved your Level 3 personal trainer qualification in the hopes of working freelance then renting a gym isn’t your only opportunity, you can also work from private studios.

This differs from working freelancer from a gym, as whilst working at a private studio you don’t have to pay a fixed fee. Usually, private studios will be willing to negotiate how much and when you will pay.

• This rate of pay could be a flat fee for every time you bring a client to the facility, in which case the rate of pay will be low such as £5-10.
• It could be a percentage of how much you charge, such as anywhere between 20-35% of your hourly rate. 
• A fee based on how much you intend to use the facility for that month.
• A flat monthly fee - this will typically be lower than gym chains, and you could be paying anywhere between £100-300 depending on your location. 

One of the biggest advantages of following this career path is that it is more cost-effective if you want to source your own clients. You will get to keep a larger fraction of your total earnings and it is relatively risk-free from a financial perspective.

However, finding clients may be significantly more challenging in this job role when compared to working at a gym. With the latter, your client pool is right in front of you on the gym floor, but when working for private studios you have to source your clients from scratch essentially.

Therefore, we would recommend this personal trainer career option for those of you who have a pre-established list of clients.

#6 - Freelancing From Alternative Locations 

The freelance personal training career options don’t end there as you can also follow this career path in different locations such as clients' homes or outdoors. 

Please note, in this job role, you will be acting as a sole trader and can take your practice anywhere that you wish. This can range from one-to-one sessions at clients’ homes to hosting group sessions in local parks or beaches.

Here you will have to generate your own client base and sales, but without the added necessity of paying a rental fee.

This is arguably one of the most beneficial aspects of this career path, as you will get to retain all of your earnings. You can even charge more money for travelling to a client's home for the costs such as travel.

However, money isn’t anything and you may find that a negative side of this job is that it can get lonely, as you won’t have other team members to communicate with throughout the day. 

What’s more, another downside of working as a roaming personal trainer is that your insurance will likely be higher. This is due to the fact that working at clients' homes or public spaces poses a greater risk of accident or injury.  

Insurance will also be needed to protect your equipment from damage. As you own your entire business, you will need to ensure you’re presenting it to the highest possible standards, and damaged equipment may deter clients from signing up for more sessions. 

#7 - Starting Your Own Gym or Studio

When it comes to personal training career options, starting your own business is an exciting prospect for many trainers. By pursuing this role you will not just be in charge of your career, but potentially others too. 

You can start your own business immediately after qualifying from your Level 3 Personal Trainer Certification, if you have the financial status to do so. 

However, this particular pathway is traditionally pursued later on, once individuals have found financial success and established themselves within other personal trainer career options.

At OriGym, we encourage this particular route to own your own studio, as you will be able to take all of your previous clients with you to your new business. 

This career path will be particularly beneficial if you are experiencing great success within another PT role. If you are constantly booked with clients throughout most days of the week, then it will be worth your while to pursue opening your own studio/gym. 

You can choose to rent a large space such as a warehouse for this, and may even hire other trainers or staff members to work for you. 

This is arguably the best aspect of this role, as you are in control of everything about the brand, from the colour scheme of your workspace to the people you hire. Make this studio what you have always wanted it to be, and be sure that it reflects who you are.

Secondly, you will be able to scale your PT business in this role. By freeing up some of your personal time with other trainers, you can dedicate time to gaining more clients and improving your existing facilities.

However, one of the biggest challenges faced in this role is that it is expensive, which is why we only recommend it to those who have found previous success within (and have extensive knowledge of) the industry. 

You will be in charge of paying for everything from equipment, to marketing and construction just to name a few, so be sure you have a strong stream of cash in the bank.

What’s more, if you’re used to working alone then managing other staff members may be difficult. You will need to be on hand to give guidance and advice at a moment's notice, ensure people are paid correctly and on time, all whilst keeping daily rotas updated. 

#8 - Becoming an Online Personal Trainer 

Online personal trainer career options are a market that is growing at a rapid rate, and you could use this public interest to your benefit. 

What may surprise you is that to work within this sector you don’t even need to teach virtual classes. You can write bespoke programs, provide nutrition advice, give general advice and track the progress of a client's work.

Typically, the rate of pay for this job role will be less than in-person trainers. This is due to the fact that you won’t be in person with them during workouts, meaning that you can’t provide immediate motivation or feedback.

A standard hourly rate for this role ranges from £15-20.00. However, you may choose to set up a subscription service for this particular role.

If you decide to pursue this personal training career option then we’d recommend ensuring you have a plethora of resources to provide your clients with. This can range from meal plans to exercise video libraries. 

One of the benefits of becoming an online personal trainer is that you’re not confined to one location. This means that you won't have to pay to rent or own space, as you can base your operations from the comfort of your own home.

What’s more, you can build your client pool to reach unprecedented numbers. You could be operating out of the UK but have clients based across the world, there is simply no limit to your capabilities. 

However, this could in turn be flipped as a negative aspect of this role, as many active trainers will be disheartened to learn online personal training can become a desk job. 

You will also need business and marketing skills in order for this venture to succeed, as you will have to sell yourself based entirely on what clients see from a screen. 

#9 - Starting a Group Personal Training Business

If you have achieved a personal training certificate then you are not confined to solely working with one-to-one clients. Instead, you can choose to tap into an often ignored personal trainer career option and work with groups. 

Now, let’s immediately clear that being a group personal trainer is not the same as teaching classes. 

Classes are when a group follows the same choreographed routine at the same time, whereas group personal training will see clients performing different routines and using different apparatus. 

As a group personal trainer, you may host group warm-up and down routines. This will be the only section where everyone will follow the same routine, everything else will be individualistic. 

Due to the fact that clients will be working towards different fitness goals you will need to split your time and attention equally. This is done to ensure that everyone gets the right amount of attention to stay on track towards their goals. 

The best part of this job is that it’s time-efficient, a benefit which will appeal to those of you with a busy schedule. By pursuing this role, your schedule won’t be packed with one-to-one sessions, meaning that you can get through a large chunk of your sessions at once, freeing more time for your personal use. 

Another benefit of group personal training is that it’s more affordable for clients, who would otherwise not be able to afford one-to-one sessions. As a group trainer, you should reduce your expected prices as you are dividing your time and attention between multiple people.

However, this in turn could be flipped as a downside of this particular personal trainer career option. Whilst lower prices are good for the clients it means that you will be receiving less money per session. 

#10 - Operating Fitness Classes 

Operating fitness classes is the perfect choice for trainers who enjoy leading large groups of clients at once. 

In terms of personal training career options, teaching fitness classes can be quite rewarding, as you don’t have to confine yourself to one niche. You could teach indoor cycling sessions, and yoga the next, the options really are limitless. 

This limitless potential also translates into the space you perform such classes. You can operate your teaching from any venue you deem suitable, from a scenic outdoor venue to rented gym space.

But how do you earn money from these personal training career options?

You can either charge them per session, with prices ranging from £5-10 for each class. Alternatively, you can charge a monthly fee of £30-40, which will allow clients to attend as many classes as they wish. 

However, this doesn’t mean that the only way to teach fitness classes is through freelance opportunities. In fact, many gyms will sign contracted employees for this very job role.

Gym’s typically paid £20-25 per hour outside of London, whereas those located in the capital can earn up to £30-35 an hour. This is merely a rough estimate, if a class is in popular demand you may have the potential to earn more money. 

If you choose to pursue this career, a gym will typically require you to hold a minimum of a Level 2 Fitness Instructor certification. 

Alternatively, you can choose to combine this course with a Level 3 personal trainer qualification, in order to achieve your Personal Training Diploma in as little as four weeks. 

These classes have a mass level of client appeal and are a great way to ease yourself into the fitness industry. By leading fitness classes you will gain a better understanding of how to interact with clients in working environments, all whilst learning what they enjoy in order to attract others.

However, there are some negative aspects of this job, such as the fact that gyms will often give you very little notice as to when you’re leading a class. This gives you little time to prepare a routine or to even make it to the class itself. 

When contemplating all of the personal trainer career options that are before you, teaching fitness classes is a great place to start. With the knowledge and experience gained from this role, you’ll be confident enough to pursue a number of other roles. 

If you’d like more information relating to any of these jobs we’d strongly encourage you to check out our YouTube video on this topic.

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We hope you're enjoying this article dedicated to various personal training career options. If you’re looking to read similar OriGym articles, we can recommend the following:

• Personal Trainer Job Description Explained
• How to Become a PureGym Personal Trainer 
• How To Be A Personal Trainer On A Cruise Ship

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become a Personal Trainer? 

Before you can pursue any of these personal trainer career options you need to first gain qualifications. There are a number of different ones which you can pursue, all of which we will break down for you in this section!

Level 2 Fitness Instructor 

In order to work professionally as a personal trainer, you need a course that is taught by a reputable provider, and that is regulated by Ofqual. Without this, you won’t be able to work in a gym environment or progress on to a Level 3 PT course, which is the qualification you should be striving to achieve.

OriGym’s level 2 fitness instructor course is ideal for those looking to get started with this process. No previous experience or qualifications are required for enrollment, but we do ask all applicants to be above the age 16. 

It may be worth thinking about this qualification as the first stepping stone in your fitness career, as the vast majority of advanced fitness courses will require you to already hold this qualification. 

Upon graduating from our course, which is fully accredited by CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity), you will gain the knowledge and experience required to launch your career immediately following graduation. 

Our team of industry-leading tutors will help with this. Not only can you graduate in as little as two weeks, but that you will also receive a guaranteed job interview with a local gym too. 

Another appealing aspect of our Level 2 fitness instructor course is that you can choose when you study. The options we provide are full-time enrollment, online-based study, and a split part-time learning approach that combines both online and in-person teaching.

It's a vital necessity to secure this qualification before enrolling on our personal training course. Due to this fact you can choose to study for both the Level 2 fitness instructor course and the Level 3 personal trainer course at the same time with our personal training diploma.

Level 3 Personal Trainer

This is the course that will unlock all of the potential personal training career options on the market today. Through the completion of OriGym’s Level 3 personal trainer qualification, you will learn how to successfully operate as a PT within the fitness industry in as little as 2 weeks. 

Much like the fitness instructor certification before it, this CIMSPA recognised qualification can be studied through the three aforementioned methods: in-person, online, and blended learning. 

During this course, you will cover a variety of topics which are all designed to enhance your overall knowledge of human anatomy, fitness, health, nutrition, and the business side of the industry. 

This will be achieved through an in-depth study of the following topics:

• Advanced Anatomy & Physiology for Health & Exercise  
• Nutritional Purposes
• Personal Training Delivery 
• Programming Training Sessions
• Demonstrating Leadership
• Learning The Business

Following the completion of all of these modules, you will have a better understanding of how to tailor training routines to a client's specific needs.

Whilst studying you will have complete access to OriGym’s team of industry-leading professional tutors, who will be on hand to help you via phone calls, emails, and our chatbox system. 

What’s more, as a student you will also gain access to our e-learning platform, which has been packed with useful resources such as:

• Video lectures 
• E-Books 
• Quizzes
• Videos
• Exercise Library 

However, this isn’t the only personal training course that we offer, as you can advance your acquired knowledge of the fitness industry even further with a Level 4 course.

Level 4 Specialist Courses

Acquiring a Level 4 specialist qualification will unlock even more personal training career options, and will set you apart from your peers in the industry.

At OriGym we provide 4 different Level 4 personal training qualifications that allow you to work with different client pools and boost your potential income even further. Please note, these certifications are for trainers who have already attained their level 3 personal training qualification. 

If you’d like to enquire about any of these courses click the links below for more information.

• Lower Back Pain Management 
• Obesity Control and Weight Management
• Diabetes Control & Weight Management
• Sports Nutrition

The completion of this course will give you a unique set of qualifications that many of your peers in the industry will lack. This will be particularly beneficial if you’re working freelance and are looking for ways in which you can entice potential clients.

FAQ:

How Much Does a PT Earn?

As we have discussed at length throughout this article a personal trainer's total earnings can be influenced by a variety of factors such as job role, experience, and location. Therefore, answering this question is not as straightforward as you may expect. 

As stated in our article detailing personal trainer salaries, contracted trainers can earn anywhere from £27,000.00 - £32,000.00 every year. 

Whereas freelancing is a little harder to give a general estimate for, due to the fact that trainers in this profession can charge anything they deem appropriate.

This estimate fails to take into consideration factors that could cost the trainer money, such as the amount that trainers may pay to rent gyms. If you find yourself earning slightly less than expected you may want to increase your earning potential. 

If you want to increase your earning potential we strongly recommend earning higher qualifications. 

By earning higher qualifications such as a Level 4 Personal Training certificate or specialist CPD courses, you will strengthen your CV and increase the chances of earning a well-paid job. This is because you will be able to provide a specialist service on top of your regular PT sessions. 

What is The Scope For A Career In Personal Training?

If you’re pursuing a career in personal training then it may interest you to learn about the scope of the industry at large. 

According to ibis statistics as of 2023, there are over 23,045 personal trainers in the UK. Whatsmore, the wider fitness industry brings in over £536million a year with the help of 21,544 related businesses. 

Just by looking at these small stats, we can see just how competitive the fitness industry is. This is why it’s so important to make yourself stand out from the crowd with qualifications that others don’t have. 

On top of your personal training diploma, we advise acquiring a qualification such as an OriGym Level 4 Nutrition certificate. 

This will allow you to provide clients with information and training that would be otherwise inaccessible to them. For example, if you earn your Nutrition certification you can provide your PT clients with dietary advice and guidance to assist in their training. 

Do I Need Insurance as a Personal Trainer?

In short, the answer to this question is yes, you need insurance to operate as a personal trainer for a variety of reasons. We would always recommend using companies such as Insure4Sport. 

With this particular insurance site, a monthly fee of £40.00 will provide you with up to £1million in coverage. However, if you’d like to financially secure yourself even further then Insure4Sport also provides several quotes for up to £10million coverage. 

But why do you need insurance in the first place? Well, insurance can legally and financially protect personal trainers should the following events occur:

• A client damages your equipment 
• A specific program is brought into question if a client is injured 
• You personally become injured during a session which means you’ll miss work
• You require physio treatment for an injury suffered at work
• Your equipment is stolen
• An employee is injured during your session and claims compensation

Whilst this may seem like an unnecessary extra bill, we can assure you that paying insurance is a vital requirement for all personal trainers. 

How Can I Virtually Interact With My Clients?

If you wish to pursue any of the freelance personal training career options that we have mentioned within this article, you will undoubtedly need to interact with your clients virtually. 

Having an active presence on social media will help you to initially interact with clients, but if you’re looking to pursue freelance work professionally then you will need a specialized platform.

This will help to establish your personal brand as a trainer and will be the thing that makes you money.

Whilst using your chosen software you should be sure to sell yourself to the best of your ability.

This includes providing relevant information relating to your own fitness journey, your qualifications and how you came to work in this sector.

However, you must also provide features for potential clients to pay for. This could range from a subscription service for online training, to a simple meal plan, the prices of which will naturally differ depending on the service you’re providing.

By reading the aforementioned article you should be able to find software that perfectly suits your needs as a personal trainer and those of your clients looking to train remotely. 

Before You Go! 

It's important to remember that we have only provided you with 10 potential personal training career options, but you can in fact tailor this role to your own desires.

Before you go, you can pursue one of these personal training career options with a personal training diploma or download OriGym’s comprehensive prospectus to learn more.