How Much Does a Personal Trainer Earn?

Key Data On Personal Trainer Salary

– Data shows that the average hourly rate for a personal trainer in Australia is between $24.22 – $59.18 per hour, with the average hourly rate in 2026 sitting at $32.56 an hour.

– The current average base salary for a personal trainer in Australia is roughly $61,417

– The personal training industry has experienced consecutive years of growth and is projected to continue expanding in the future.

Personal Training Industry Growth

Over the past few years, the Personal Trainer (PT) industry has rapidly grown in Australia. Now in 2026, fuelled by rising obesity rates and a general growing awareness and interest in fitness, health and well-being, Australians are increasingly turning to personal trainers to get in better physical shape and start living a healthier lifestyle, as we see modern discourse increasingly look at health as an investment in all areas of life, from work to recreational. This in-demand service has resulted in the personal trainer industry becoming one of the fastest-growing careers in the country, which makes personal training professionals highly sought after across multiple sectors. What’s even more appealing is that this demand is expected to keep growing at an unprecedented rate.

According to market data and research firm The Business Research Company, the personal trainers segment globally is projected to grow to $57.09 billion in 2029, with an annual employment growth rate in Australia of 2-3%. As health crises the world over have spawned new perspectives on healthier living, growth of the industry has continued to see the emergence of new fitness trends as a reflection of society’s changing attitudes, including Wearable Technology, Online Coaching, and the concept of ‘Exercise is Medicine’. EIM is a global health initiative that aims to encourage health practitioners to include physical activity assessments and promotion as part of standard care. ( Source: www.statista.com)

 

Fitness Participation Rates & Rising Health Consciousness

Health consciousness continues to grow amongst Australians across various age groups. Data gathered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has highlighted a growth in the proportion of the population meeting physical activity needs, increasing from one in six (17%) between 2017-2018 to one in five (22.4%) by 2022, among our 18-64 year old demographic.

So, why are we seeing increasing fitness participation rates and why are they projected to continue growing? Well, a contributing factor is that Australia has one of the highest obesity rates in the world – with over 32% of the adult population falling under that category (source: data.worldobesity.org). Coupled with an ageing population, Australians are increasingly recognising the benefits of regular exercise and its positive effects on general health and well-being.

A Burden of Disease Study published in 2021 by the Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare has found that 38% of the disease burden could have been avoided or reduced by addressing modifiable risk factors. These risk factors include tobacco use, being overweight, and obesity. THE AIHW also found that a 26% reduction in disease burden due to physical inactivity could be achieved by participating in 30 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. (source: aihw.gov.au). Given this relationship between physical activity and health, including obesity and the risk of chronic disease, it’s no wonder that health consciousness is on the rise in Australia, as is the demand for fitness professionals. This rise in health consciousness is further compounded by the after-effects following the era of Covid lockdowns, with more focus moving towards improving the health and well-being of Australians.

This renewed focus on health creates a greater demand for fitness professionals to help guide Australians to improved health and a reduced risk of serious illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and other health conditions on the severe end of management.

 

Personal Trainer’s Role

In 2026, whether your clients are avid fitness participants or newcomers to the world of exercise, many people are turning to personal trainers to receive individually-tailored, one-on-one fitness programs. These highly skilled fitness professionals take factors such as age, sex, individual needs, previous or existing injuries, medical conditions, and current health and fitness into account when developing and implementing a fitness regime. For the consumer, this specialised program is appealing because it is results-orientated, helping them achieve personal fitness goals and meet health needs. Furthermore, it also allows the PT to monitor a client’s progress and continually adjust their exercise program to meet changing fitness level needs. Best of all, a PT can guide, educate, motivate and inspire clients to reach their set goals.

 

Employment Prospects For Personal Trainers

With Australia’s continuing rise in health consciousness in 2026, personal trainers are in high demand. Clients can range from individuals looking to make lifestyle changes and improve their health to organisations wanting to promote team building, the potential for personal trainers to find work extends across multiple sectors.

Generally speaking, there is no shortage of work in the personal training field. According to the Victorian Employment Projections dashboard, the rate of growth in the number of PT’s over the past 5 years has slowed, likely due to the effects of the pandemic and its subsequent regulations. However, rate of growth has since been forecasted to grow exponentially, from 310 additional workers by 2027 to a projected 1,729 by 2034; a 457.7% margin of increase.

Furthermore, full-time fitness industry professionals work around 43 hours per week compared to the all jobs average of 44 hours. For a further snapshot of the fitness instructor industry, see the information below:

Overall, although work hours for personal trainers are based around their client’s needs, they are generally more flexible than most 9 to 5 workplaces. And if that isn’t appealing enough, the expected pay can also be very rewarding.

 

What Does A Personal Trainer Typically Earn?

The latest 2026 data shows that the average hourly rate for a personal trainer in Australia is between $24.22 – $59.18 per hour, with the average sitting at $32.56 an hour.

Source: PayScale Australia

Moreover, the current average yearly base salary for a personal trainer is around $61,417 a year, with the extreme ends of the spectrum falling within a range of $39k to $85k annually.

Source: PayScale Australia

However, a Personal Trainer can earn as much as $118,360 per year, or $59.31 per hour depending on their experience and qualifications, if we take the extreme end of our average hourly rate. By upskilling and specialising in areas such as strength and conditioning, health and nutrition, weight loss, and rehabilitation, a PT can markedly increase their base salary. In fact, data collected by PayScale shows specialising in Training Management can increase a PT’s salary by 21%.

You can also further improve your earnings by keeping up-to-date with professional development and abreast of current best practices. Another factor that contributes to your earnings as a Personal Trainer, is whether you work for a gym or if you are self-employed. If you are not contracted to a specific company, you are able to earn a higher income since you will be able to set your own rates based on your skills, experience, and specialisations.

Source: PayScale Australia

What all this means is that beginning a career as a personal trainer will see you entering a growing field that has many current and future job opportunities and the potential to earn a great salary. So, if you are thinking of embarking on a new career in the fitness industry, not only can this be an exciting opportunity, but it can also be personally and financially rewarding.

Field of Work For Personal Trainers

What makes it so exciting to become a personal trainer in this climate, are the limitless opportunities a qualification in personal training can offer.

While the traditional personal trainer works as part of a gym, the possibilities reach far greater than that. You have the skills to run outside boot camps for larger groups, enjoying the freedom to run them as frequently as suits you and your client’s schedule. Some personal trainers explore at-home work, where the trainer will go to the client’s home and work within the confines of a client’s house or apartment building gym.

As a result of the COVID 19 Pandemic, there are also a large number of trainers pivoting to online pre-recorded and live classes. Some personal trainers record class-style workout sessions and upload them for clients to come to at their own convenience – this is perfect for your clients who have particularly erratic schedules or don’t like to work out in the company of others.

For those really looking for a change of scenery there are regular personal trainer positions available on resorts, spas, and even cruise ships. As well as that, a great number of personal trainers are now looking at finding employment at community centres, where they run classes and can spread their talents between gym work, sports, aquatics, and group fitness sessions.

The Old Meets The New- The Hybrid Model

Due to the pandemic and the lockdown regulations that followed, many Personal Trainers at the height of lockdowns were forced to adjust to online training as a training model. Although this model is not new in the fitness industry, since then we’ve absolutely seen an uptake in online training as a normalised mode of delivery. By adopting this model, PTs have been able to access new demographics of interested clients; and as we’ve come to stabilise in today’s hybrid work environments, it’s become more normal than ever for clients to opt for online interventions, wherever being physically present is not considered a fundamental necessity .

What we’ve seen over time, in this case, has been a shift in what clients seek and expect out of their fitness training and providers; continuity, flexibility and accessibility are now important parts of the conversation here, with a need to keep schedules malleable to the ebb and flow of sudden life obligations, day to day challenges as well as spontaneous occurrences.

This is good news for PTs who are looking for ways to maximise their revenue and increase their client base. A hybrid model allows PTs to take on more clients since most of the training will occur online through apps and trackers, with clients attending fewer in-person sessions, while still getting results. The hybrid model also allows for greater flexibility and the opportunity to help more people reach their health and fitness goals. PTs can also choose to only train clients online, which allows them to reach a wider audience since geographical location does not constrain them.

Other Advantages To Being A Personal Trainer

A career in personal training offers more than a comfortable wage when it comes to staying healthy, enjoying work/life balance, and choosing your hours. It is essential to consider these things as job satisfaction often encompasses more than just the pay packet.

Outside of monetary reward, a career in personal training allows you to:

• Stay healthy

Keeping in shape is often tricky for those who work full-time and are out of energy at the end of a workday or dread an early rise to get to the gym. A career in personal training puts you right in the spot with all of the proper equipment meaning a workout in between clients is easy, not to mention the active work you will be doing while training others.

• Help others

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a personal trainer is the satisfaction you will get from improving the lives of your clients, helping them to achieve their goals and become healthier and more confident. 

• Work within your passion

If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. If health and fitness are strong passions of yours, a job as a personal trainer will be very enjoyable, plus you’ll be able to build the knowledge and skills you already have to teach other people.

• Find new career opportunities

The flexibility of working in a gym, health club, sports club, or even a cruise ship provides some interesting and exciting career opportunities. You can also set up your own business and choose your hours to enjoy a flexible schedule. Keep in mind you will need to consider when clients are able to train (early in the morning or late at night due to work), but for the most part, you have control over your time.  

How Much Do Gyms Pay Personal Trainers?

Remuneration for fitness coaches varies across fitness centres. One common approach involves the assignment of a fixed commission, typically ranging from 30% to 60% of the session fee. For instance, if a fitness centre charges $100 per session and offers a commission rate of 50%, a coach would earn $50 per session, with the remainder being retained by the centre.

Some fitness centres adopt a performance-based approach, offering a graduated commission system. In such a structure, you could earn a 30% commission for 10 training hours per week, escalating to a 40% commission for 20 or more hours. The more clients you engage, the higher your income potential, encouraging fitness coaches to adopt a proactive, sales-oriented role. Additionally, some gyms just opt to just pay personal trainers an hourly wage.

How Many Hours Do Personal Trainers Work A Week?

On average, the workweek spans somewhere between 25 to 40 hours. These hours are typically distributed among gym sessions, classes, meeting clients, and also marketing/brand efforts. However, these can vary greatly depending on the trainer and the nature of the services they provide.

Some personal trainers operate part-time while others commit to a full-time schedule. The rise of online services in the fitness industry allows for greater flexibility in how personal trainers structure their workdays.

Personal trainers tend to split their day into two sessions, morning and evening. This suits their clientele well, especially those who are working professionals looking to squeeze in a workout before or after their standard work hours.

It’s not uncommon for trainers to be up at the crack of dawn, around 5 or 6 am, prepping for their morning sessions. The afternoon usually presents a break period, after which they gear up for the evening sessions. This flexibility and dedication make personal trainers an essential part of the fitness industry. As professionals, they are adept at adapting to the needs of their clients, ensuring that they can provide their services at times most convenient.

ACFB – Helping You Become A Personal Trainer

If you are interested in health and fitness and have considered a career as a personal trainer, you’ve come to the right place. The Australian College of Fitness & Bodywork (ACFB) is dedicated to providing award-winning and nationally-accredited education and training in the fitness field. With its long and accredited history, ACFB has been helping students achieve their dreams of becoming a personal trainer since 1989. Honoured as the Department of Education’s 2013 Victorian Small Training Provider of the Year, ACFB delivers a first-rate education. Our highly qualified and dedicated staff have many years of experience in the fitness and education industries, ensuring you learn about current best practice and industry standards from knowledgeable fitness professionals. Begin a new and rewarding career in personal training today. Contact ACFB on 1300 002 232 and our friendly staff can help you find the right Personal Trainer (PT) course to suit your needs.