Fitness and wellbeing instructors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time fitness and wellbeing instructors in the UK earned a median £27,273 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 30% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (50th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £24,579 a year, men £28,268 a year.
Most jobs here are part-time: 9,000 of about 34,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 44.6% (from £18,862), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 62,400 people in this line of work, 17% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | – | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | – | £465.80 | £12.57 | – | £12.26 |
| 25th percentile | £23,596* | £471.40 | £12.83 | £122.10* | £12.37 |
| 30th percentile | £24,245* | £483.70 | £13.12 | £146.00 | £12.59 |
| 40th percentile | £25,142 | £498.20 | £13.62 | £153.20* | £12.86 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £27,273 | £518.20 | £14.17 | £226.80* | £14.13 |
| 60th percentile | £28,183* | £539.00 | £14.89 | – | £15.43 |
| 70th percentile | – | £586.80* | £15.60* | £412.50* | £17.45* |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | £458.90* | £18.21* |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | £490.00* | £19.62* |
| Mean | £28,994 | £596.10 | £16.03 | £292.90 | £15.64 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £18,862* | £363.90 | £10.76 | £180.20* | 28* |
| 2022 revised | £20,855* | £401.60 | £10.91 | – | 25* |
| 2023 revised | £21,362* | £434.00 | £12.03 | – | 24* |
| 2024 revised | £24,339* | £498.30 | £13.59 | – | 31 |
| 2025 provisional | £27,273 | £518.20 | £14.17 | £226.80* | 34 |
Fitness and wellbeing instructors by region
UK: 62,400 (± 9,700), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 10,600* | ± 4,100 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What fitness and wellbeing instructors do
Fitness and wellbeing instructors deliver training in a range of fitness activities, including weight training, yoga, Pilates, personal training and other forms of exercise at private health and fitness centres, local authority run sports and leisure centres, other public and community establishments, and in private homes. (ONS SOC 2020, 3433)
Also covers: aerobics instructor, fitness instructor, gym instructor, lifestyle consultant, personal trainer, pilates instructor, yoga teacher, aerobics teacher, fitness coach, fitness consultant, fitness professional, fitness trainer, physical trainer, pilates teacher, yoga instructor, yoga therapist, yoga tutor and zumba instructor (25 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Assesses the fitness levels of clients
- Devises programmes of training appropriate to the needs of clients with varying levels of strength, fitness and ability
- Demonstrates and leads fitness activities and supervises exercise classes
- Ensures that clients do not injure themselves through over exertion or using incorrect training techniques
- Plans and monitors personal fitness schedules
- Understands the health and safety aspects of different forms of exercise and ensures that any statutory requirements are met
There are no formal academic requirements. Entrants must, however, possess coaching qualifications recognised by the appropriate governing body. Applicants to coaching courses must normally be over 18 years old and hold a first-aid certificate. Background checks including a DBS check are required for those working with children.
Related
Sports and fitness occupations (median £30,948) · Sports coaches, instructors and officials · Sports players · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026