While it may SOUND easy, some of us struggle a bit with finding a career that we love. After all, if you are in the fitness industry, we want to do work we love and help people live better lives while also making a living, right? Explore the top fitness careers to learn where you fit.
It’s an old saying that we’ve all heard a thousand times: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Fortunately, you’re not alone on this journey. In this blog, we’re breaking down six of the happiest fitness industry jobs and what makes them so.
6 of the Happiest Fitness Industry Careers
Careers that make people happy all share a few common traits: they offer a great work environment, the potential for strong relationships with coworkers and supervisors, working with people to better their lives, and a sense of meaning.
Here are six unique careers that offer all of those things in spades:
1. Fitness Franchise Owner
For many people, self-employment is a dream. A recent survey of self-employed people showed that 70% feel they have a solid work-life balance, 94% would never go back to working for someone else, 54% said they’re generally healthier, and 55% felt less stressed than they did in their regular job.
If you’ve always dreamed of owning your business, but you don’t want to bootstrap it, a franchise is an excellent alternative. A franchise like Alloy offers a proven business model, strong brand recognition, world-class training and support, and affordable startup costs.
Also, the fitness franchise industry is exploding, and experts are calling for strong growth in the coming years. As the healthcare industry shifts from measuring illness to preventing it, comprehensive wellness solutions like Alloy will continue to see increased demand, and Alloy owners will have tremendous growth opportunities.
Learn more about the Alloy franchise opportunity here.
2. Fitness Manager
If you love designing fitness programs, the role of fitness manager could be right for you.
Fitness managers handle various gym or fitness center functions, including writing and developing exercise plans and managing a team of personal trainers. They also create schedules and may manage a facility’s finances.
Most facilities want fitness managers to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in physical education or a related field. Many employers require previous business experience (big plus for holding an MBA). Some fitness managers are also Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs).
3. Nutritionist
You love helping people live healthy and active lives. It’s why you entered the fitness industry in the first place! One of the best roles to execute your vision is that of a nutritionist.
Nutritionists often work in or with gyms, studios, fitness centers, and health clubs to advise clients on what types of food to eat and how to craft a diet that helps them achieve optimal health and their fitness goals.
Nutritionists work one-on-one with clients to craft menus that cater to their dietary habits and needs and support a client’s fitness journey. Most nutritionists have a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or food science, and many are Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNSs) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs).
4. Fitness Instructor
You love cycling, yoga, or HIIT, and you want to share that love with the world. Becoming a fitness instructor could be a great way to do it! Fitness instructors are people from various backgrounds who get certified to teach a specific type of fitness.
While some fitness instructors are certified personal trainers, that’s not usually a requirement. Instead, you’ll simply need to explore the certification requirements for the niche you’re interested in.
For example, people who want to become yoga instructors will need to take a qualified 200-hour yoga teacher training to achieve a base-level certification and can take a subsequent 500-hour advanced training if they want to elevate their career.
If you’re interested in becoming a fitness instructor with a specific gym or fitness center, talk to them about their hiring and certification requirements.
5. Physical Therapist
If you’ve got a passion for helping people and you don’t mind some schooling, becoming a physical therapist could be a great choice. Many physical therapists are highly educated health care experts specializing in diagnosing and treating people with restricted or limited movement.
Physical therapists may work with people with disabilities, those recovering from injuries or surgeries, or people who just want to maintain mobility and flexibility as they age. Physical therapists work one-on-one with patients to teach therapeutic exercises and techniques and help them build strength.
While physical therapists (PTs) have a high earning potential (the national average salary is about $83k annually), the education requirements are also lofty. Physical therapists must have a master’s degree in physical therapy and a certification in the field. Some highly qualified PTs even hold doctoral degrees.
6. Personal Trainer
If you love working out and want to help others to accomplish their fitness and health, then becoming a personal trainer is another great choice.
Personal trainers work closely with adults of all ages and backgrounds to assess strengths and weaknesses and create customized, goal-oriented workout plans. Personal trainers provide accountability, mental and physical guidance, and support for people striving to achieve fitness goals.
To become a personal trainer, you’ll need to work with a certification body, such as The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), or the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF). Certification programs vary in focus, duration, and cost, so you’ll need to do some research to find the right one for you.
Finding Your Place in the Fitness Industry
If you want a career helping people and one that’s going to keep you active and happy, then fitness careers are highly satisfying. Whether you open your own Alloy franchise, become a fitness manager, or finally get certified as a personal trainer, you’ll be an active part of the fitness community, working each day to advance the industry and help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. You’ll also curate a work environment you love, feel energized by your job, and make good money doing it!
Article by: Suzanne Robb
Check Out Other Articles
- Journey from Personal Trainer to Gym Ownership
- Types of Fitness Franchises For Investors to Consider
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