Jobs Similar to Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Also called: Exercise Trainers and Fitness Instructors
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Physical Therapist Aides, Occupational Therapy Aides and Animal Trainers.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors: $47,160 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical Therapist Aides | 77% | $35,240−25% | High school |
| 2 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 76% | $39,160−17% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Animal Trainers | 75% | $39,990−15% | High school |
| 4 | Massage Therapists | 74% | $58,450+24% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Athletic Trainers | 74% | $62,520+33% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Physical Therapists | 74% | $102,760+118% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Exercise Physiologists | 74% | $59,460+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 73% | $68,380+45% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 73% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Midwives | 73% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Skincare Specialists | 73% | $45,330−4% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Recreational Therapists | 73% | $61,960+31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 72% | $33,580−29% | High school |
| 14 | Childcare WorkersSame group | 72% | $34,980−26% | High school |
| 15 | Coaches and Scouts | 72% | $47,3200% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 72% | $72,300+53% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 71% | $35,790−24% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Occupational Therapists | 71% | $100,330+113% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Shampooers | 71% | $32,600−31% | High school |
| 20 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 71% | $38,140−19% | Training or associate |
- 1Physical Therapist Aides
77% similar · $35,240 (−25%) · High school
- 2Occupational Therapy Aides
76% similar · $39,160 (−17%) · Training or associate
- 3Animal Trainers
75% similar · $39,990 (−15%) · High school
- 4Massage Therapists
74% similar · $58,450 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 5Athletic Trainers
74% similar · $62,520 (+33%) · Graduate degree
- 6Physical Therapists
74% similar · $102,760 (+118%) · Graduate degree
- 7Exercise Physiologists
74% similar · $59,460 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Physical Therapist Assistants
73% similar · $68,380 (+45%) · Training or associate
- 9Adapted Physical Education Specialists
73% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Midwives
73% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Skincare Specialists
73% similar · $45,330 (−4%) · Training or associate
- 12Recreational Therapists
73% similar · $61,960 (+31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
72% similar · $33,580 (−29%) · High school
- 14Childcare Workers
72% similar · $34,980 (−26%) · High school · Same group
- 15Coaches and Scouts
72% similar · $47,320 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Occupational Therapy Assistants
72% similar · $72,300 (+53%) · Training or associate
- 17Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
71% similar · $35,790 (−24%) · Training or associate
- 18Occupational Therapists
71% similar · $100,330 (+113%) · Graduate degree
- 19Shampooers
71% similar · $32,600 (−31%) · High school
- 20Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
71% similar · $38,140 (−19%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than exercise trainers and group fitness instructors.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former exercise trainers and group fitness instructors →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Coaches and Scouts (79)
- Animal Trainers (77)
- Occupational Therapy Aides (76)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (75)
- Exercise Physiologists (74)
- Skincare Specialists (73)
- Physical Therapist Aides (72)
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (71)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (71)
- Nursing Assistants (71)
Questions about jobs like exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
What jobs are most similar to exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Physical Therapist Aides (77% similar), Occupational Therapy Aides (76% similar), Animal Trainers (75% similar), Massage Therapists (74% similar) and Athletic Trainers (74% similar).
Which jobs like exercise trainers and group fitness instructors pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physical Therapists ($102,760, +118%; usually a graduate degree), Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +113%; usually a graduate degree) and Occupational Therapy Assistants ($72,300, +53%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with exercise trainers and group fitness instructors ($47,160). Without more preparation than exercise trainers and group fitness instructors usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants and Massage Therapists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.