Outdoor enthusiasts, gym worshipers, and weight loss hopefuls alike continue to rely on personal trainers to fine-tune their physiques and help them lead healthier lifestyles. As a fitness professional in Texas, this often means commanding a high salary.
In fact, as of 2013, the United States Department of Labor found that fitness trainers working in Texas earned a median annual salary that was $2,300 more than the national average. Personal trainers that intend on surpassing the median salary range are encouraged to improve their marketability through:
- Getting their personal trainer certification through a well-respected certifying organization
- Earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, health and physical education, exercise science or a related field
- Accumulate an impressive work history through experience and/or on-the-job training
Salary Averages for Personal Trainers in Texas
Personal trainers can expect excellent employment prospects in Texas. In fact, the United States Department of Labor expects fitness professionals in Texas to benefit from an employment growth rate of over 22% through 2022. This projection far exceeds the national employment growth rate of 13% for this occupation.
In 2013, government salary reports showed that fitness trainers cultivated successful careers through exceptional experience earned over $40,000 more annually then those in entry-level positions and $30,000 more annually then professionals with moderate experience:
- Entry-Level: $17,800/yr.
- Mid-Career: $35,300/yr.
- Experienced: $66,600/yr.
In that same year, wage-earning fitness trainers were also subject to different pay based on their experience. By participating in internships, volunteer positions, and maintaining a steady employment record, personal trainers can really boost their salary earning potentials:
- Entry-Level: $8.57/hr.
- Mid-Career: $16.96/hr.
- Experienced: $32.04/hr.
Personal Trainer Salaries by Region in Texas
In 2014, Texas held the fourth highest level of employment for fitness trainers in the country. In that year, employment was especially high in the Houston-Sugarland-Baytown region, which made the federal government’s top ten list of metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for fitness trainers nationwide.
In 2013, the United States Department of Labor illustrated differences in pay for fitness trainers in several metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Texas:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly 10th percentile wage
Hourly 25th percentile wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual 10th percentile wage
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Amarillo TX
210
14.64
30440
9.86
12.13
14.20
16.82
18.72
20500
25230
29530
34980
38930
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos TX
1270
20.86
43390
9.37
15.11
21.71
26.92
29.87
19480
31430
45160
55980
62120
Beaumont-Port Arthur TX
90
16.73
34790
12.31
15.25
16.78
18.30
20.97
25600
31730
34890
38060
43610
College Station-Bryan TX
170
18.51
38490
8.44
12.02
17.63
22.44
28.83
17550
25010
36670
46680
59970
Corpus Christi TX
90
19.85
41290
11.84
16.31
19.92
22.68
27.05
24630
33920
41440
47170
56260
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
4780
22.89
47610
10.90
17.20
22.56
28.18
34.92
22670
35780
46930
58620
72640
Dallas-Plano-Irving TX Metropolitan Division
3430
24.30
50540
12.79
19.58
23.61
28.93
35.88
26610
40730
49110
60170
74630
El Paso TX
140
13.21
27480
7.84
8.61
10.46
15.69
24.42
16310
17910
21760
32640
50800
Fort Worth-Arlington TX Metropolitan Division
1350
19.31
40160
8.73
12.74
18.14
25.23
30.96
18170
26490
37730
52480
64400
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown TX
3900
19.67
40910
8.79
10.93
17.62
25.19
33.57
18280
22740
36660
52390
69820
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood TX
40
13.95
29020
8.33
9.84
12.14
19.44
22.18
17330
20460
25260
40440
46140
Lubbock TX
180
17.69
36790
8.85
12.16
17.22
21.50
28.82
18410
25300
35810
44720
59940
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission TX
Estimate not released
20.20
42020
8.01
9.06
21.14
28.76
34.61
16660
18850
43970
59810
71980
San Angelo TX
60
15.05
31290
8.16
9.40
15.57
17.98
21.65
16970
19550
32390
37400
45030
San Antonio-New Braunfels TX
550
20.74
43150
8.63
12.23
21.01
27.04
33.69
17940
25440
43690
56240
70080
Texarkana-Texarkana TX-AR
80
12.74
26500
8.06
9.08
11.23
14.12
20.81
16770
18890
23370
29360
43280
Tyler TX
240
14.41
29970
7.97
8.87
12.99
17.05
25.18
16570
18450
27010
35470
52370
Waco TX
90
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Northwestern Texas nonmetropolitan area
80
10.96
22800
7.69
8.18
8.99
12.74
17.17
15990
17010
18700
26500
35710
North Central Texas nonmetropolitan area
80
11.58
24090
8.82
9.95
10.92
11.89
16.55
18350
20700
22710
24730
34430
Eastern Texas nonmetropolitan area
190
13.03
27100
7.87
8.61
12.17
16.80
20.97
16370
17900
25320
34950
43620
Central Texas nonmetropolitan area
100
17.57
36560
10.03
12.30
15.50
22.65
28.26
20860
25570
32240
47110
58770
Gulf Coast Texas nonmetropolitan area
110
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
Estimate not released
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Estimate not released
Estimate not released
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