What are the main factors that influence an Exercise Instructor I's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Exercise Instructor 's salary?

An Exercise Instructor 's salary grows with experience: a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) (0-0 years)earns $49,514, an Exercise Instructor I (0-1 years)earns $38,807, a Fitness Training Coordinator II (1-3 years)earns $50,619, a Personal Fitness Trainer (3-5 years)earns $67,441, a Gym Supervisor (5+ years)earns $69,135,

What are the highest paying states for an Exercise Instructor I?

Exercise Instructor I salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Exercise Instructor I roles are District of Columbia $43,000, California $42,900, Massachusetts $42,300. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Exercise Instructor roles make?

Salaries for Exercise Instructor level roles vary by specialization: Tech Training Instructor I: $61,600; Training Instructor I: $57,593; Water Exercise Instructor: $52,498; Aquatic Exercise Instructor: $52,179; Therapeutic Exercise Instructor: $51,773.

How do different companies affect an Exercise Instructor I's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Exercise Instructor I roles. Large, established industry leaders like Kpmg Us LLP ($114,295) and Warner Bros Discovery ($114,096) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $88,138.

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Exercise Instructor I Salary in the United States

How much does an Exercise Instructor I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Exercise Instructor I in the United States is $38,900 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, an Exercise Instructor I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,822
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,800 to $42,000
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,978

10% $32,978

50% (Median) $38,900

90% $44,822

Exercise Instructor I Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$42,000	$3,500	$808	$20
Average	$38,900	$3,242	$748	$19
25th Percentile	$35,800	$2,983	$688	$17

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Key Factors That Influence Exercise Instructor I Salaries

An Exercise Instructor I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Exercise Instructor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Exercise Instructor I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) (0-0 years): $49,514
Exercise Instructor I (0-1 years): $38,807
Fitness Training Coordinator II (1-3 years): $50,619
Personal Fitness Trainer (3-5 years): $67,441
Gym Supervisor (5+ years): $69,135

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)	0-0 years	$49,514
Exercise Instructor I	0-1 years	$38,807
Fitness Training Coordinator II	1-3 years	$50,619
Personal Fitness Trainer	3-5 years	$67,441
Gym Supervisor	5+ years	$69,135

View as Graph

How Do Exercise Instructor I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Exercise Instructor Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $43,000.
California: $42,900.
Massachusetts: $42,300.

District of Columbia $43,000

California $42,900

Massachusetts $42,300

Washington $42,100

New Jersey $42,100

Alaska $42,100

Connecticut $41,500

New York $41,300

Hawaii $40,600

Rhode Island $40,300

Maryland $40,100

Minnesota $39,800

Illinois $39,600

Colorado $39,600

Oregon $39,500

Delaware $39,300

New Hampshire $39,300

Virginia $39,100

Pennsylvania $38,700

Nevada $38,500

North Dakota $38,400

Michigan $38,300

Wisconsin $38,200

Vermont $38,100

Arizona $37,900

Maine $37,900

Texas $37,900

Ohio $37,800

Georgia $37,500

Indiana $37,300

Wyoming $37,300

Utah $37,200

Iowa $37,200

Kansas $37,000

Louisiana $36,900

North Carolina $36,900

Missouri $36,900

Florida $36,800

Montana $36,700

Nebraska $36,600

Kentucky $36,600

South Carolina $36,400

Tennessee $36,300

Idaho $36,300

New Mexico $36,000

Oklahoma $35,900

Alabama $35,700

South Dakota $35,300

Arkansas $35,100

West Virginia $35,000

Mississippi $34,700

Top Paying Cities for Exercise Instructor Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $49,000
San Francisco: $48,500
Oakland: $47,400

San Jose, CA $49,000

San Francisco, CA $48,500

Oakland, CA $47,400

New York, NY $44,700

Paramus, NJ $44,200

Queens Village, NY $44,200

Passaic, NJ $44,100

Bergenfield, NJ $44,100

Stamford, CT $44,100

Huntington, NY $44,000

Newark, NJ $43,800

Bridgeport, CT $43,700

Vallejo, CA $43,600

New Brunswick, NJ $43,600

Petaluma, CA $43,600

Middlesex, NJ $43,500

Somerset, NJ $43,500

Santa Cruz, CA $43,400

Boston, MA $43,200

Monterey, CA $43,000

Seattle, WA $42,900

Santa Rosa, CA $42,900

Los Angeles, CA $42,900

Juneau, AK $42,800

Washington, DC $42,800

Orange, CA $42,600

Anaheim, CA $42,500

Anchorage, AK $42,500

Santa Ana, CA $42,500

Long Beach, CA $42,500

Santa Maria, CA $42,400

Everett, WA $42,400

Danbury, CT $42,200

Bremerton, WA $42,200

Santa Barbara, CA $42,000

Tacoma, WA $42,000

New Suffolk, NY $42,000

Sacramento, CA $42,000

Trenton, NJ $41,900

Brockton, MA $41,900

San Diego, CA $41,900

Fairbanks, AK $41,800

Lompoc, CA $41,700

Lowell, MA $41,700

Ventura, CA $41,700

Nashua, NH $41,600

Stockton, CA $41,600

Modesto, CA $41,400

Poughkeepsie, NY $41,300

New Haven, CT $41,200

Olympia, WA $41,200

Kennewick, WA $41,200

Lawrence, MA $41,000

Hartford, CT $41,000

Riverside, CA $41,000

New Bedford, MA $41,000

Richland, WA $41,000

New London, CT $40,900

Norwich, CT $40,900

Atlantic City, NJ $40,900

New Britain, CT $40,900

San Bernardino, CA $40,900

Bakersfield, CA $40,900

Portsmouth, NH $40,800

Boulder, CO $40,800

Portland, OR $40,700

Worcester, MA $40,700

Minneapolis, MN $40,600

Philadelphia, PA $40,500

Vineland, NJ $40,400

Honolulu, HI $40,400

Saint Paul, MN $40,400

Providence, RI $40,300

Chicago, IL $40,200

Bellingham, WA $40,100

Springfield, MA $40,100

Baltimore, MD $40,100

Chico, CA $40,000

Pittsfield, MA $39,900

Manchester, NH $39,800

Denver, CO $39,600

Spokane, WA $39,600

Albany, NY $39,400

Troy, NY $39,400

Nassau, NY $39,400

Schenectady, NY $39,300

Wilmington, DE $39,300

Burlington, VT $39,200

Salem, OR $39,200

Portland, ME $39,100

Yakima, WA $39,100

Rochester, MN $39,000

Reno, NV $38,900

Fresno, CA $38,900

Milwaukee, WI $38,900

Detroit, MI $38,900

Ann Arbor, MI $38,900

Allentown, PA $38,800

Colorado Springs, CO $38,800

Syracuse, NY $38,800

Carson City, NV $38,800

Eugene, OR $38,700

Houston, TX $38,700

Gary, IN $38,600

Springfield, OR $38,600

Bismarck, ND $38,600

Galveston, TX $38,600

Medford, OR $38,500

Fort Collins, CO $38,500

Concord, NH $38,500

Austin, TX $38,500

Reading, PA $38,400

Dallas, TX $38,400

Mesa, AZ $38,400

Phoenix, AZ $38,400

Saint Cloud, MN $38,300

Madison, WI $38,300

Utica, NY $38,200

Des Moines, IA $38,100

Rochester, NY $38,100

Raleigh, NC $38,100

Lancaster, PA $38,000

Salt Lake City, UT $38,000

Atlanta, GA $38,000

Battle Creek, MI $38,000

Harrisburg, PA $37,900

Kansas City, MO $37,900

Kansas City, KS $37,900

Champaign, IL $37,900

Fort Worth, TX $37,900

Columbus, OH $37,900

Richmond, VA $37,800

Boca Raton, FL $37,800

Pittsburgh, PA $37,800

Indianapolis, IN $37,800

Cleveland, OH $37,800

Las Vegas, NV $37,800

Cincinnati, OH $37,800

Petersburg, VA $37,700

Dayton, OH $37,600

Pueblo, CO $37,600

Charlotte, NC $37,600

Racine, WI $37,600

Buffalo, NY $37,600

Lansing, MI $37,600

Lebanon, PA $37,600

Huntsville, AL $37,600

Appleton, WI $37,600

Toledo, OH $37,500

Saint Louis, MO $37,500

York, PA $37,500

Elkhart, IN $37,500

Gastonia, NC $37,500

Billings, MT $37,500

Beaumont, TX $37,500

Lorain, OH $37,500

Benton Harbor, MI $37,500

Binghamton, NY $37,500

Flagstaff, AZ $37,400

Fort Lauderdale, FL $37,400

Fargo, ND $37,400

Rock Hill, SC $37,400

Springfield, IL $37,400

Elyria, OH $37,400

Rockford, IL $37,400

Duluth, MN $37,300

Miami, FL $37,300

Grand Forks, ND $37,300

Cheyenne, WY $37,300

Bangor, ME $37,200

Cedar Rapids, IA $37,200

Durham, NC $37,200

Louisville, KY $37,200

Grand Rapids, MI $37,200

Hialeah, FL $37,100

Casper, WY $37,100

Peoria, IL $37,000

Akron, OH $37,000

Sarasota, FL $37,000

New Orleans, LA $37,000

Scranton, PA $37,000

Virginia Beach, VA $37,000

Tucson, AZ $36,900

Jamestown, NY $36,900

Davenport, IA $36,900

Charleston, SC $36,900

Omaha, NE $36,900

Green Bay, WI $36,900

Nashville, TN $36,900

Baton Rouge, LA $36,900

Saint Petersburg, FL $36,800

Tampa, FL $36,800

Evansville, IN $36,800

Port Arthur, TX $36,800

Bradenton, FL $36,800

Santa Fe, NM $36,700

Orlando, FL $36,700

La Crosse, WI $36,600

Clearwater, FL $36,600

Canton, OH $36,600

Newport News, VA $36,500

Norfolk, VA $36,500

Laramie, WY $36,500

Corpus Christi, TX $36,500

Albuquerque, NM $36,500

High Point, NC $36,500

Ogden, UT $36,500

Rock Island, IL $36,400

Saginaw, MI $36,400

Jacksonville, FL $36,400

Salisbury, NC $36,400

Boise, ID $36,400

Moline, IL $36,400

Memphis, TN $36,400

Fort Myers, FL $36,400

Tulsa, OK $36,300

Waterloo, IA $36,300

Spartanburg, SC $36,300

Lincoln, NE $36,300

Fort Wayne, IN $36,300

Greensboro, NC $36,200

South Bend, IN $36,200

San Antonio, TX $36,200

Provo, UT $36,200

Cedar Falls, IA $36,200

Savannah, GA $36,100

Muskegon, MI $36,100

Birmingham, AL $36,100

Winston Salem, NC $36,100

Greenville, SC $36,000

Augusta, GA $36,000

Lexington, KY $36,000

Lake Charles, LA $36,000

Anderson, IN $36,000

Springfield, OH $35,900

Lima, OH $35,900

Wichita, KS $35,900

Tuscaloosa, AL $35,900

Columbia, SC $35,900

Bloomington, IN $35,800

Asheville, NC $35,800

Knoxville, TN $35,700

Shreveport, LA $35,700

Wilmington, NC $35,600

Roanoke, VA $35,600

Topeka, KS $35,500

Frankfort, KY $35,500

Oklahoma City, OK $35,500

Chillicothe, OH $35,500

Longview, TX $35,500

Melbourne, FL $35,500

Sioux Falls, SD $35,400

Mobile, AL $35,400

Terre Haute, IN $35,400

Altoona, PA $35,400

Chattanooga, TN $35,300

Fayetteville, AR $35,300

Sioux City, IA $35,300

Amarillo, TX $35,300

Killeen, TX $35,300

Idaho Falls, ID $35,200

Lynchburg, VA $35,200

Gainesville, FL $35,200

Temple, TX $35,100

Pensacola, FL $35,100

Clarksville, TN $35,100

Daytona Beach, FL $35,100

Lafayette, LA $35,100

Little Rock, AR $35,100

Portsmouth, OH $35,100

Youngstown, OH $35,100

Hopkinsville, KY $35,000

Erie, PA $35,000

Florence, SC $35,000

Charleston, WV $34,900

Great Falls, MT $34,900

Pine Bluff, AR $34,800

Helena, MT $34,800

Waco, TX $34,800

Tallahassee, FL $34,800

Macon, GA $34,800

Fayetteville, NC $34,800

Vincennes, IN $34,700

Lubbock, TX $34,700

Alamogordo, NM $34,700

Jackson, MS $34,600

Twin Falls, ID $34,600

Rapid City, SD $34,600

Huntington, WV $34,600

Greenville, MS $34,500

Parkersburg, WV $34,500

Montgomery, AL $34,500

Wichita Falls, TX $34,500

Springfield, MO $34,500

Columbus, GA $34,400

Johnstown, PA $34,400

Sumter, SC $34,400

Biloxi, MS $34,400

Monroe, LA $34,400

Pascagoula, MS $34,300

Abilene, TX $34,300

Kingsport, TN $34,200

Albany, GA $34,200

Gulfport, MS $34,200

Alexandria, LA $34,000

Fort Smith, AR $33,900

El Paso, TX $33,800

Las Cruces, NM $33,700

Harlingen, TX $33,600

Pocatello, ID $33,600

Florence, AL $33,500

Brownsville, TX $33,500

Mcallen, TX $33,400

Dothan, AL $33,400

Columbus, MS $33,100

Altus, OK $33,000

Lawton, OK $32,900

Pierre, SD $32,700

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Exercise Instructor I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $42,008. While startup companies pay approximate $35,594.

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$35,594
Growth Stage	51~500	$37,635
Established	501~5000	$40,575
Enterprise	5000+	$42,008

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Exercise Instructor I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Exercise Instructor positions in Insurance or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Exercise Instructor I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Exercise Instructor I

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$58,350	$28.0	50%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit	$42,790	$21.0	10%

Exercise Instructor I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Exercise Instructor I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$35,800

Average $38,900/year

$42,000

$2,983

Average $3,242/month

$3,500

$688

Average $748/week

$808

$17

Average $19/hour

$20

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$42,000	$3,500	$808	$20
Average	$38,900	$3,242	$748	$19
25th Percentile	$35,800	$2,983	$688	$17

Exercise Instructor I Salary Growth & Career Path

Exercise Instructor I

Next Role

Advancement

Fitness Training Coordinator II Personal Fitness Trainer

For an Exercise Instructor I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Fitness Training Coordinator II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $50,700 - a projected growth of 30% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Exercise Instructor I

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Exercise Instructor I

Here are companies hiring for Exercise Instructor I and their salaries, click below for more details.

K $114,295/per year

Kpmg Us LLP Business Services the United States

W $114,096/per year

Warner Bros Discovery Business Services the United States

D $111,927/per year

Dentsu International Ltd Business Services the United States

G $111,873/per year

GroupM Worldwide Inc Business Services the United States

C $111,651/per year

CoWorx Staffing Business Services the United States

C $110,194/per year

Contemporary Services Corp Business Services the United States

S $107,128/per year

Showcase Cinemas Business Services the United States

A $106,429/per year

Amentum Services Inc Business Services the United States

A $106,199/per year

Allied Universal Security Services LLC Business Services the United States

S $106,104/per year

Sodexo USA Business Services the United States

J $105,192/per year

JLL Technologies Business Services the United States

I $104,478/per year

Intact Insurance Group USA LLC Business Services the United States

N $101,619/per year

NielsenIQ Business Services the United States

T $101,470/per year

The Leading Edge Alliance Business Services the United States

H $101,308/per year

Honeywell UOP Business Services the United States

R $97,720/per year

Reeve & Associates Business Services the United States

M $97,584/per year

ManpowerGroup Global Inc Business Services the United States

F $95,980/per year

Financial Sys Nco Business Services the United States

A $95,314/per year

Arrow Global Ltd Business Services the United States

C $94,777/per year

CarMax Enterprise Services LLC Business Services the United States

D $94,479/per year

DZConneX Business Services the United States

A $93,802/per year

Adecco Staffing, USA Business Services the United States

R $92,937/per year

Resource MFG Business Services the United States

Z $92,774/per year

Zachry Brands Inc Business Services the United States

G $88,138/per year

Greystar Worldwide LLC Business Services the United States

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FAQ about Exercise Instructor I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Exercise Instructor I?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Exercise Instructor I roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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Exercise Instructor I Salary in the United States

How much does an Exercise Instructor I make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Exercise Instructor I Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Exercise Instructor Salaries?

How Do Exercise Instructor I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Exercise Instructor Is

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Exercise Instructor I

Exercise Instructor I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Exercise Instructor I Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Exercise Instructor I

Common company salaries for Exercise Instructor I

Find Your Next Exercise Instructor I Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Exercise Instructor I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Exercise Instructor I?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Exercise Instructor I Salary in the United States

How much does an Exercise Instructor I make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Exercise Instructor I Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Exercise Instructor Salaries?

How Do Exercise Instructor I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Exercise Instructor Is

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Company Size

Exercise Instructor I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Exercise Instructor I

Exercise Instructor I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Exercise Instructor I Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Exercise Instructor I

Most common benefits for Exercise Instructor I

Common company salaries for Exercise Instructor I

Find Your Next Exercise Instructor I Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Exercise Instructor I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Exercise Instructor I?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?