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Salary comparison

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors vs. Childcare Workers: Who Earns More?

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss out-earn Childcare Workerss by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss land at $47,160 and Childcare Workerss at $34,980. The education gap is real: exercise trainers and group fitness instructor programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while childcare worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss is Massachusetts ($64,620); for Childcare Workerss it's District of Columbia ($47,340).

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Childcare Workers
Median salary
$47,160
$34,980
Hourly rate
$22.67/hr
$16.82/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,800
$24,260
Senior level (90th %)
$83,100
$46,010
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
322,930
518,910
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors median pay.

State
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Childcare Workers
Massachusetts
$64,620
$40,900
Connecticut
$61,580
$36,660
New Jersey
$59,870
$36,390
Oregon
$58,510
$38,650
California
$57,990
$40,020
Vermont
$57,300
$38,030
Washington
$50,830
$41,680
Colorado
$49,900
$40,750
New Hampshire
$49,360
$37,080
Hawaii
$48,290
$37,030
New York
$47,090
$37,590
Maine
$47,060
$36,350
Alaska
$46,210
$36,200
Rhode Island
$45,640
$36,940
District of Columbia
$39,210
$47,340

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss or Childcare Workerss?

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss earn more nationally. The median is $47,160 for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss versus $34,980 for Childcare Workerss, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors or Childcare Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors or Childcare Workers?

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Childcare Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss at $64,620/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors vs. Childcare Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss earn $64,620 vs. $40,900 for Childcare Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary breakdownView →Full Childcare Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Childcare Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a exercise trainers and group fitness instructorsGuide →How to become a childcare workersGuide →