Personal trainers are creating a healthier, more active environment in South Carolina. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 50% of adults and 25.8% of young people in South Carolina are getting enough daily exercise. Yet a greater awareness of the benefits of exercise and an active lifestyle continues to grow in the state, creating more job opportunities for personal trainers here.
Some personal trainers work as independent contractors, while others are on staff at athletic clubs, universities, medical centers and gyms throughout South Carolina. In all cases, your success depends largely on having the technical knowledge and motivational skills to help clients see the kind of results that make them want to keep coming back – and refer their friends.
Factors Affecting Personal Trainer Salaries in South Carolina
In 2013, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce released wage data showing how personal trainer salaries were largely influenced by level of experience:
- Entry-Level: $17,720/yr. or $8.52/hr.
- Average: $30,370/yr. or $14.60/hr.
- Experienced: $36,700/yr. or $17.64/hr.
As a personal trainer, you can also expect your earnings to be impacted by the industry you work in. For instance, salary figures released in 2013 for fitness trainers working in South Carolina’s three major industries of employment showed how working in a medical facility results in the highest earning potential:
- Hospitals: $38,320/yr.
- Recreation: $32,170/yr.
- Accommodation: $24,480/yr.
Examples of ways you can improve your earning potential as a personal trainer include:
- Earning certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Becoming a certified personal trainer through an organization like the American College of Sports Medicine
- Completing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology or physical education
- Accumulating relevant work experience through jobs, volunteerism, or internships
- Sustaining and recruiting clientele
- Applying for management or directorial positions
Personal Trainer Salaries in South Carolina by Region
The results of a 2013 salary survey of personal trainers in South Carolina released by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics shows how salaries differ based on location: