Personal Trainer Annual Report:
Data Insights, Statistics, & Trends
2024 Personal Trainer Statistics
What do personal training stats tell us about the industry in 2024? Insurance Canopy polled our personal trainer insurance policyholders and scoured the web to bring you exclusive insights into personal training industry statistics, trends, demand, and more.
Personal Training Industry Size
Are personal trainers in demand in 2024? Despite repeated announcements over the past decade that “personal training is dead,” personal training statistics show demand for personal trainers grew 4% per year on average between 2018 and 2023.
Personal Training Statistics About Demand
2024 Personal Trainer Trends
Personal training is alive and well, but the industry has had to learn some new moves. In 2024, being a personal trainer means more than gym training during in-person, one-on-one sessions.
Based on 2024 Insurance Canopy data from over 9,700 customers, our policyholders represent the broad range of what it means to be a personal trainer.
Most Popular Niches for Fitness Instructors at Insurance Canopy
Based on 2024 internal Insurance Canopy data from over 9,700 sales. Note: Some trainers teach more than one type of class.
- At Insurance Canopy, personal trainers make up 43% of our fitness instructor policyholders.
- Of the 4,132 personal trainers we cover, 66% do small group personal training along with individual training.
- 15% of our covered personal trainers train online either exclusively or in addition to in-person sessions.
- 47% of our personal training customers teach multiple types of fitness classes.
- Among the top choices for fitness classes taught in 2024, 7% of our personal training clients also teach yoga and 4% also teach Pilates.
*Based on 2024 Insurance Canopy customer survey
Top Personal Training Styles
- Functional fitness (78%), strength (56%), and wellness training (44%) top the list of our covered trainers’ most popular training niches, following spikes in industry demand in 2023 and 2024.
- The popularity of functional training shows in the growth of low-impact, intentional movement exercises like Pilates – up 14% in the number of US participants in 2023.
- Strength training is a 2023 top trend that’s still going strong. Over 60% of users on fitness hub ClassPass include strength training in their workout.
- Millennial and Gen Z consumers propel the wellness market to $1.8 trillion in 2024 by outspending older generations in fitness and nutrition.
*Based on 2024 Insurance Canopy customer survey
Top Fitness Client Trends
“Which changes within the fitness industry are you noticing most in 2024?”
Other Responses
“Support for clients using GL-1 meds and Ozempic”
Client Preferences
Clients still appreciate word of mouth to find a trainer in 2024. A Nielson advertising study found that 88% of consumers trust personal recommendations the most of all channels.
Our covered personal trainers get most of their clients (84%) from referrals and another big chunk (19%) from networking.
Digital and social media marketing continue to grow in 2024 as inexpensive tools for small businesses become more accessible.
Over 55% of customers now learn about brands through social media and 55% of small businesses use social media for advertising. Our policyholders thought about 19% of clients found them through their professional websites and about 16% through social media.
Personal Training Clients' Most Popular Fitness Apps
Available for about $100, Fitbit (the most popular fitness app with our policyholders’ clients) demonstrates the ease of online fitness tracking in 2024. Fitness apps generated $3.6 billion in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022, so expect this trend to have staying power.
Top Grossing Fitness Apps on Google Play
50M+
Downloads
Fitbit
50M+
Downloads
MyFitnessPal
50M+
Downloads
AllTrails
50M+
Downloads
Strava
50M+
Downloads
Calm
*Data based on July 2024 Google Play app reporting
Personal Trainer Responsibilities
Even in 2024, the qualifications to be a personal trainer are less regulated than in many other industries.
But, education, certifications, and experience all help trainers earn top dollar. They also prepare you for personal trainer responsibilities like conducting client assessments, designing exercise programs, monitoring progress, and educating on fitness topics.
Personal Trainer Education Requirements
A high school diploma is the minimum education needed to be a personal trainer, but many trainers earn extra credentials to meet gym hiring requirements or stand out to clients. Low personal trainer market share concentration means fierce competition between many small businesses in 2024.
Most US personal trainers (67%) have a bachelor’s degree, but many also pursue other types of learning. 88% of our surveyed policyholders reported that they had or were pursuing a personal training certification.
Personal Trainer Certification Options
With hundreds of CPT certification options (and counting), fitness pros are always looking for the best personal trainer certification programs.
Most Popular CPT Certifactions With Insurance Canopy Policyholders
NASM – 28%
ACE – 25%
ISSA – 19%
ACSM – 16%
NSCA – 9%
NESTA – 6%
SilverSneakers – 6%
Other – 28%
*Based on 2024 Insurance Canopy customer survey. Note: customers can hold multiple certifications
Consistent with national certification trends, our policyholders’ top picks for certifications in 2024 are NASM, ACE, and ISSA.
Personal Training Information: Salaries, Costs, and More
Personal trainer salaries vary based on experience, hours, location, and employment type. The states where personal trainers earn the most are New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and California.
Income Average for Personal Trainers
According to Indeed, the average personal trainer salary is about $29/hour or $46,953/year in 2024. Your qualifications to be a personal trainer play a big role in your salary.
Anecdotal wage data from trainers suggests an experienced trainer may charge anywhere from $30 to $150 an hour or more. Trainers who work in a major metro area also earn 10%–20% more on average, according to NESTA.
Did you notice that the Indeed hourly wage doesn’t net the annual salary you might expect for full-time work? It’s about 25% lower. That’s because most trainers don’t work full-time, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and our customer research.
Average Overhead Costs
According to Indeed, the average personal trainer salary is about $29/hour or $46,953/year in 2024. Your qualifications to be a personal trainer play a big role in your salary.
Anecdotal wage data from trainers suggests an experienced trainer may charge anywhere from $30 to $150 an hour or more. Trainers who work in a major metro area also earn 10%–20% more on average, according to NESTA.
Your personal training rates need to factor in overhead costs — the fees involved in running your business. Depending on where you live, class size, marketing and business experience, and training style, your costs may go up or down.
Insurance Information for Personal Trainers
You help your clients become their best selves, guiding them through the setbacks to fitness success. But who helps you when something goes wrong with your business? That’s where personal trainer insurance comes in.
Average Insurance Costs
Based on eight leading insurance companies in the personal trainer industry, the average cost for personal trainer insurance is $236 annually or a median cost of $189 per year.
At $159/year, Insurance Canopy is the most affordable personal trainer insurance on the market — while also offering some of the highest limits and the most customization.
You can be named responsible in a claim if you or your business activities cause harm or property damage. Personal trainer insurance is a safety net that covers the specific risks your training business faces.
The best policy for you will have the lowest cost for the highest coverage limits in areas where you face the most risks.
Most Common Claims Against Personal Trainers
*Based on Insurance Canopy claims data from 2020-2024
Claims Examples
Since 2020, our average payout for defending a personal trainer liability claim is $31,218.
Our highest claim payout topped out at $217,814. The state with the highest number of claims submitted is Florida at 23%.
According to our internal data, the most common claims faced by personal trainers are slips, trips, and falls (50%), damage to personal gear and equipment (25%), and professional errors (15%).
Real Examples of Our Top Three Personal Trainer Claims
Slip, Trip, and Fall Claim
$62,059 – Covered
Summer’s elderly client tripped over a BOSU ball on the floor during her group training class and dislocated his shoulder, which required surgery.
Personal Gear & Equipment Damage Claim
$2,000 – Covered
A student accidentally kicked over a cabinet in Michael’s studio during his training session. The fall destroyed the streaming video and lighting equipment Michael stored inside.
Professional Errors Claim
$61,045 – Covered
A student aggravated an existing leg injury during her workout with Felicity and spent a week in the hospital. She sued Felicity for negligence, citing lack of adjustments for her medical history as the cause of injury.
Covered Training Styles
Online training is booming today as streaming technology and fitness apps become more seamless, integrated, and accessible. In 2024, 14.85% of our personal trainer policyholders defined their business activities as online or virtual training – a 20% increase from 2021.
At Insurance Canopy, we see demand for personal training niches and special populations growing, just like you do. Whether you train online, lead group exercise, or do lifestyle training, we offer the coverage you need to keep up with your clients.
Insurance Canopy covers most trainers, including the following:
- Virtual/Online Trainers
- Strength Trainers
- Performance Trainers
- Lifestyle Trainers
- Mobile Trainers
- Group Exercise Trainers
- Gym Instructors
- Boot Camp Instructors
Policy Exclusions
Aside from a few of the most high-risk training styles, Insurance Canopy covers just about any personal training practice.
What Insurance Canopy Doesn’t Cover
- Martial Arts (like MMA and Jiu Jitsu)
- Aerial Sports (like aerial yoga and pole dance)
- Water Fitness (like swim coaching and water aerobics)
How to Get Insurance for Your Personal Training Business
When a client is injured and you’re facing thousands of dollars in claims, fees, and bills, a personal trainer insurance policy with Insurance Canopy means we’re here to guide you through the legal process and help cover your costs.
Protection for your business is as easy as filling out our online application for same-day coverage and proof of insurance.
FAQs About Personal Training
How Many Personal Trainers Are in the US?
Zippia estimates that about 90,667 personal trainers work in the United States in 2024. This is about 32% of all US fitness trainers and instructors, which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will hit 283,970 in 2024.
Where Do Personal Trainers Work?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most personal trainers (54%) work for gyms and fitness centers. Personal trainer statistics show the following breakdown for the most common places to work:
- Fitness and recreational sports centers (54%)
- Self-employed (19%)
- Educational services (7%)
- Civic and social organizations (7%)
- Government (3%)
Are Personal Trainers in Demand?
Personal trainers are in demand in 2024 with a strong job outlook. The personal training industry was worth $41.4 billion in 2023. Personal trainer jobs are expected to grow faster than average at a rate of 14% from 2022-2032.
Methodology
For over a decade, Insurance Canopy has provided top-rated business insurance to thousands of personal trainers.
To create this annual report, Insurance Canopy collected data from 2024 and 2022 surveys of Insurance Canopy personal trainer policyholders, 2024 active insurance policy data made up of 9,705 responses, and fitness instructor policy claims data from 2020–2024.
Personal trainers who participated in surveys and made up our internal data represent all 50 US states, a variety of training styles, and a range of different policy types.
Additional information is attributed in our report to the original data source.
Attributing the Data
For more than a decade Insurance Canopy has been an industry leader in providing businesses with top-rated insurance to thousands of personal trainers across the nation.
Thank you for taking the time to explore Insurance Canopy’s Personal Trainer Insurance report. We encourage you to share or reference our findings with attribution to Insurance Canopy and a link to this page. For more information, please contact us at info@insurancecanopy.com.
