Home to the Shenandoah National Park, 540 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia has long attracted an active community of hikers, boaters, swimmers, and other outdoor fitness fanatics. Couple that with the state’s heavy presence of athletic chains like Anytime Fitness and Gold’s Gym, and it becomes clear that Virginia is a great place for personal trainers like you to find an active clientele while earning enviable salaries.
In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proudly announced that 48.2% of Virginian adults engaged in a minimum of 300 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activity a week. And as more research indicates that physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and even some cancers while simultaneously improving mood health, life longevity, and bone strength, the general public in Virginia continues to demand the services personal trainers provide.
Right now, the United States Department of Labor expects that fitness trainers in Virginia will experience an employment growth rate of 16% through 2022, which is 3% faster than the national average for this occupation. This projection equates to more future job opportunities and consequently higher salary offers for the personal trainers here.
Personal Trainers Salary and Wage Averages in Virginia
In 2013, the United States Department of Labor found that a fitness trainer’s pay average in Virginia was often based on their experience. In that year, highly experienced fitness trainers earned an average annual salary that was over $45,000 more than those just starting out:
- Entry-Level: $19,200/yr.
- Mid-Career: $40,100/yr.
- Experienced: $66,600/yr.
Likewise, fitness trainers that received hourly wages also found that experience greatly influenced their earning potential in Virginia. Here, career veterans earned an average hourly wage that was over $20.00 more than those new to the field:
- Entry-Level: $9.25/hr.
- Mid-Career: $19.27/hr.
- Experienced: $32.04/hr.
Personal Trainer Salaries by Region in Virginia
To see how your location can affect your pay in Virginia, take a look at the United States Department of Labor’s salary and wage report for fitness trainers that worked in several of Virginia’s metropolitan and nonmetropolitan regions in 2013: