Personal training salaries in Australia can be highly varied. We hear anything from a low wage to an exceptionally high six-figure salary quoted by Personal Trainers and companies that hire Personal Trainers. But it’s essential to dig a little deeper than that and understand, first of all, if it’s simply true, but secondly, all the pros and cons within those quoted numbers.
Do your research.
It’s easy for somebody to put up a job ad on Seek, claim an exceptionally high OTE or on-target earnings, and have a hypothetical salary. But is this a credible company? Are people actually earning this? The easiest way to find the truth is to research personal training income. Or ask the Personal Trainers working for that company how much a PT make. And whilst they may not tell you how much they’re making, they would tell you how long they’ve been working there. If none stay more than a year or beyond the minimum period, odds are they’re not making the exceptional salary that the job ad is claiming.
Is it a job or a business?
Whilst the lines between a contractor and an employee should never be blurred, the unfortunate reality is that the fitness industry blurs those lines a lot, with some very different outcomes regarding what is happening. People are typically hired as subcontractors in personal training jobs. Here are the varied rates and systems that would likely be on offer for that:
Personal training contractor
An ABN is necessary if one takes the role of a contractor from a technical perspective. Here, you are your own boss, and you take on the pros and cons of being your own boss. In some contractor systems, you’ll get paid for each appointment and won’t incur the expenses of being a traditional business owner. The gym rental system, however, is the most common contractor system within the personal training industry; this is what you’ll typically see on sites like Seek and Indeed referencing renting space at a gym. Check out the blog post on how the personal training gym rental system works to learn more about this.
In summary, one has the weekly expense of renting space in exchange for the opportunity to build a business and make a significant amount per session, including all of the advantages and disadvantages of being a business owner. Given that this is not a job, what you make is not a salary but a business opportunity. As with any business opportunity in any industry, there is the possibility of making a fortune and losing money. So it isn’t easy to calculate the average salary for a Personal Trainer. These roles make up at least three-quarters of so-called personal training jobs in the industry.
Personal Training Employee
This is one of the few times a Personal Trainer would be legitimately employed with a wage or a salary as a Personal Trainer. Whilst many systems on Seek may sound like that at first glance, it is uncommon outside government organisations such as the YMCA and PCYC. It’s easy to calculate the average Personal Trainer’s salary. Look up “fair work” and look at the award wage. Typically, a Personal Trainer will have a level 4 salary as an employee. However, there may be variations depending on whether they are also performing administrative duties or performing duties in higher areas.
Fitness Industry Award (MA000094)
As the fitness industry evolves, so do the people within the industry’s pay conditions. The Fitness Industry Award (MA000094) discusses the legal conditions of employment for employers and employees working in the fitness industry, including wages and allowances. Personal trainer pay rates and conditions of employment depend on various factors. Thus, it’s essential to ensure you are compensated for your hard work, which means making sure you are recognised at the right pay level.
Fitness Instructor Pay
Fitness instructor pay is most commonly at a maximum level 4A in the fitness industry award. However, as this is not primarily a personal training role, it may also be level 2 or somewhere between the two.
Group Exercise Instructor Salary and Pay
Typically, a group exercise instructor would be hired as a contractor with a set rate per appointment. At times, that may be down as a Personal Trainer rate, most commonly at level 4A. Superannuation or super is mandatory to be paid to all employees.
Comparing Personal Training Wages
Ultimately, it’s not all about which has the highest wage. There are many other components to consider that would dramatically impact a Personal Trainer’s salary in Australia, such as how long the shifts are, how secure they are, and if you are expected to work for free. Nevertheless, legally or ethically, nobody should ever be expected to work for free. But the reality is in the fitness industry and many other industries, it’s not uncommon that there’s a culture of expecting somebody to do some work for free. So, when comparing one to another, ask all of these questions and get all the pros and cons.
Fitness Enhancement
If you are looking for a personal training job, consider working for one of our Fitness Enhancement owners. We have no rent and no expenses. We provide the clients, and you never have to work for free. Alternatively, if being a business owner is more appealing to you, own your own NDIS-registered personal training business with Fitness Enhancement and join forces with an award-winning business system where we take care of all the things you don’t know to do or don’t want to do.
