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Fitness trainer salary in California
- $36,750lowest 10% earn less
- $45,35025th percentile
- $57,990median
- $74,16075th percentile
- $100,920top 10% earn more
The median pay for fitness trainers in California was $57,990 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $10,830 above the US median[6].
How much do fitness trainers make in California?
Fitness trainers in California had a median wage of $57,990 a year, or $27.88 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less. The average was a little higher at $62,890 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $47,160[3], so California came out $10,830 (23.0%) higher[6].
Against all jobs in the state, the picture is close. The median for all occupations in California was $58,240[8], which put fitness trainers $250 lower[9]. The lowest-paid 10% of fitness trainers earned less than $36,750[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $100,920[2]. California had the 5th highest median for this job among the states and DC with a published median[5].
By metro area, Santa Rosa-Petaluma had the highest median at $62,500[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had a median of $62,010[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 16,350 jobs and a median of $57,630[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. OEWS leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].
California vs US pay
Pay for fitness trainers in California next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in California
Metro areas in California with the most jobs for fitness trainers, and the median pay in each[11].
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11] | $57,630 | 16,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,000 | 6,820 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $56,420 | 4,810 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,010 | 2,740 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,450 | 2,700 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,240 | 2,550 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $57,230 | 860 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,500 | 780 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for fitness trainers in the states that border California, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon[14] | $58,510 | 4,800 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | 3,010 |
| Arizona | $47,980 | 7,010 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for fitness trainers are projected to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a fitness trainer make in California?
- The median pay for fitness trainers in California was $57,990 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $62,890 a year[7].
- How much does a fitness trainer make an hour in California?
- The median hourly wage was $27.88[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.67 an hour[17][2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $48.52 an hour[17][2].
- Which city in California pays fitness trainers the most?
- Among 24 metro areas with a published median, Santa Rosa-Petaluma paid the most, with a median of $62,500 a year[10].
- Is California a good state for fitness trainers?
- California had the 5th highest median annual wage for this job among the states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $10,830 above the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a fitness trainer in California?
- This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[16].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California was $57,990 per year and $27.88 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California: 10th percentile $36,750, 25th percentile $45,350, 75th percentile $74,160, 90th percentile $100,920. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in the US as a whole was $47,160 per year and $22.67 per hour, with about 322,930 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 43,600 people worked as Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 5th highest median annual wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California ($57,990) was $10,830 (23.0%) higher than the US median ($47,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California was $62,890 per year and $30.24 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California was $250 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 24 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA had the highest median annual wage, $62,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in the US: 10th percentile $28,800, 25th percentile $35,280, 75th percentile $61,730, 90th percentile $83,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $58,510; Nevada $57,960; Arizona $47,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors is projected to grow 7.3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 68,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in California: 10th percentile $17.67, 25th percentile $21.80, 75th percentile $35.65, 90th percentile $48.52. BLS OEWS, May 2025