You enjoy teaching group ex classes. You are reliable, show up on time, and members show up for your classes each week. And, you’ve gone the extra mile, taking on extra responsibilities and filling in for other instructors when they are sick or go on vacation. There is just one problem: your pay has not changed since the day your employment began

Asking for a raise can feel uncomfortable, especially if this is your first fitness job. You may worry that asking will make you look ungrateful or put your classes at risk. Instead of looking at a raise as asking for a favor, look at it as a business conversation. Your job is to show how your value has increased and why your current pay may no longer match the work you are doing.

Watch: How to Ask for a Raise as a Group Fitness Instructor

Want more advice? Watch Joanne Smith-Tavener discuss group fitness pay on the AAAI Fitness YouTube channel

Are You Being Underpaid as a Group Fitness Instructor?

Before asking for more money, find out whether your current rate is competitive.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors was $22.67 in May 2025. The average hourly wage was $25.20.

While these numbers are useful, don’t treat them as the rate every group fitness instructor should receive.

Something else: the BLS combines exercise trainers and group fitness instructors into one category. In other words, it doesn’t specifically tell us what group fitness instructors make. How much you can make will also vary based on location, employer, your experience and credentials, the number of classes you teach, and your job responsibilities. So use the BLS information as a starting point, not the final answer.

Compare Your Pay With Local Group Fitness Jobs

Your local job market may tell you more than a national average.

Look at current job openings at:

• Health clubs
• YMCAs
• Recreation centers
• Boutique fitness studios
• Universities
• Corporate fitness centers
• Community centers
• Medical fitness facilities

Sometimes a simple online search for “fitness jobs + your zip code” can give you a lot of insights.

Try to compare jobs that resemble yours.

For example, a position requiring several years of experience and multiple certifications isn’t a fair comparison if you were certified six months ago. Likewise, don’t assume a $50 class rate is automatically better than a $30 hourly rate.

Don’t Confuse the Class Rate With Your Real Hourly Pay

Suppose a facility pays you $30 to teach a one-hour class.

At first glance, that’s $30 an hour.

But suppose you also spend:

• 20 minutes planning the workout
• 15 minutes setting up equipment
• 10 minutes cleaning up and talking with members afterward

You have now worked for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Your effective pay for that $30 class is about $17.14 per hour, before you even consider travel time.

This matters when comparing jobs.

One gym might offer $35 per class but pay nothing for meetings. Another might offer a lower class rate but pay for preparation, staff meetings, training, and other work you do. Find out what you are actually being paid for.

Should You Compare Your Pay With Other Instructors?

Knowing what other instructors make can give you useful information, but don’t assume another instructor’s rate is what you should make too.

That person may have:

• More experience
• More certifications
• A specialty credential (example, AED/CPR, First Aid)
• Different responsibilities
• A harder-to-fill class

So instead of walking into your manager’s office and saying:

“Sarah makes $35, so I should make $35.”

Make your case around your own value and what comparable employers are paying.

A better argument is:

“I’ve looked at similar group fitness positions in this area, and several are paying between $28 and $35 for instructors with similar responsibilities.”

Do You Have a Good Reason to Ask for a Raise?

Wanting more money and having a good case for a raise are two different things.

Your strongest argument is evidence that you are more valuable to the facility than when your current pay was established.

What Strengthens Your Case for a Raise?

Examples include:

• Your classes consistently have good attendance.
• Class attendance has increased since you started.
• Members regularly return to your classes.
• Members give you positive feedback.
• You arrive on time and rarely miss classes.
• You regularly substitute for other instructors.
• You have taken on more classes since you started.
• You now program workouts that you did not program when hired.
• Your job now includes more responsibilities than when you were hired.
• You have earned relevant certifications.
• You can teach additional class formats.
• You help with special events or other facility programs.

You don’t need to check all these boxes, but you do need enough evidence to show that the instructor who is asking for a raise today brings more value than the instructor who was originally hired.

Does Another Fitness Certification Justify Getting a Raise?

Another certification can strengthen your case, but don’t assume it automatically means you deserve more money.

Explain to your manager what your additional education allows you to do.

Maybe you can now teach another class format. Perhaps you are better prepared to work with older adults, modify exercises, or serve members with different fitness levels.

Those skills can make you more useful to your employer.

Attending live fitness education classes can be especially valuable because instructors often learn practical skills that go beyond what they learned from a textbook or online test. That may include coaching, class management, exercise modifications, communication, and working with real-world situations.

Don’t simply tell your manager:

“I earned another certification.”

Explain what the gym gains from it.

When Should a Group Fitness Instructor Ask for a Raise?

There is no rule that instructors must wait one year.

Six or seven months may be too soon for one instructor and reasonable for another.

Ask yourself what has changed since you accepted the job.

Maybe you started at an entry-level rate because you were newly certified. Since then, you may have developed a strong class following, taken on more classes, gained experience, or become the person management regularly calls when someone needs a substitute.

Good times to discuss a raise may include:

• After you have established a record of strong performance
• When your responsibilities increase
• After earning a relevant credential
• During a performance review
• When your employer is planning a new budget
• When your current role has grown beyond the job you originally accepted

Avoid surprising your manager with the request while they are rushing between classes or dealing with members. Ask for a short meeting.

How Much of a Raise Should You Ask For?

There is no standard raise that every group fitness instructor should request.

Start by looking locally.

Suppose you currently make $20 an hour and comparable facilities in your area are advertising similar positions for $25 to $30.

That gives you a reasonable basis for asking for more.

Remember to consider your responsibilities too.

If your original job was primarily teaching classes but you now spend extra time programming workouts, helping with events, covering instructors, or teaching new instructors, your compensation should be evaluated against the job you perform now.

Before the meeting, choose a specific amount you are looking for.

For example:

“I’d like to discuss increasing my rate from $20 to $25 an hour.”

That’s much stronger than:

“Can I get a raise?”

Your manager may counter with another number. That’s fine. At least you have given the conversation a starting point.

How to Prepare Before Asking for a Raise

Don’t walk into the meeting and try to remember every reason you deserve more money.

Prepare beforehand.

Gather Evidence of Your Value

Write down evidence such as:

• Average or recent class attendance
• Changes in attendance over time
• Member feedback
• Classes you have covered
• Additional duties you perform
• New certifications or continuing education
• New class formats you can teach
• Special events you supported
• Other ways you contribute to the facility

Numbers are especially useful when you have them.

Saying, “People like my class” is vague.

Instead, saying, “My Tuesday class averaged 12 participants when I started and has averaged 21 over the past three months” gives your manager something concrete.

Research What Other Gyms Are Paying

Look at current job listings before the meeting.

Try to find several comparable positions instead of relying on one unusually high-paying job.

Pay attention to more than the headline rate.

Look at:

• Class length
• Experience requirements
• Certifications
• Employee versus contractor status
• Programming requirements
• Paid or unpaid preparation
• Benefits
• Guaranteed hours
• Cancellation policies

This gives you a better idea of what your local market actually pays.

Decide What Pay Rate You Will Ask For

Know what you want before you attend the meeting.

Also think about what you would consider acceptable.

If you earn $20 and want $25, would you accept $23?

What if your manager can’t increase your class rate but offers paid programming time?

There isn’t one correct answer.

Knowing your priorities ahead of time prevents you from having to make every decision while sitting across from your manager.

What Should You Say When Asking for a Raise?

You don’t need a long speech.

Just keep it professional and make your case.

For example:

“When I started, I was new to the position and understood that I was coming in at the starting rate. Since then, I’ve taken on more classes and responsibilities, my attendance has been strong, and I’ve become someone you can rely on to cover classes when needed. I’ve also looked at rates for similar positions in this area. Based on my current responsibilities and the local market, I’d like to discuss increasing my rate from $20 to $25 an hour.”

Then stop.

Let your manager respond.

Some people become uncomfortable with silence and start weakening their own argument by saying things like:

• “But I understand if you can’t…”
• “It’s really not a big deal…”
• “I was just wondering…”

You don’t need to apologize for asking.

Make a reasonable request and give your manager time to answer it.

Nervous About Asking for a Raise?

Many group fitness instructors can confidently lead 30 people through a workout but feel very different when they have to sit down with a manager and talk about money.

That’s understandable.

But think about what you are actually doing.

You are not demanding money.

You are asking your employer to review your compensation based on your current performance, responsibilities, and market value.

• Your manager might say yes.
• Your manager might offer less than you requested.
• Your manager might say there isn’t room in the budget.

None of these possibilities makes it wrong to ask for a raise.

Your employer may not even realize that you are unhappy with your current pay unless you start the conversation.

Sometimes you just have to ask.

What Not to Say When Asking for a Raise

Some reasons for wanting more money are completely legitimate but still make weak negotiating arguments.

Don’t Base Your Raise on Personal Expenses

• Maybe your rent increased.
• Groceries cost more.
• Gas is expensive and you drive 30 minutes each way to teach one class.

Those costs matter, but they don’t really explain why the facility should pay more for your work.

Compare these two statements:

“I need a raise because gas and rent have gone up.”

with:

“My responsibilities have increased, my classes are performing well, and similar facilities are paying more for comparable work.”

The second statement gives the manager a business reason to consider your request.

Don’t Threaten to Quit Unless You Mean It

Avoid saying things like:

“If I don’t get $30, I’m leaving.”

Unless you are REALLY prepared to resign.

A credible outside offer from another gym can give you negotiating leverage, but don’t bluff.

Once you issue an ultimatum, your manager may accept it.

How Group Fitness Instructors Demonstrate Value to the Gym

Your value doesn’t stop when the class ends.

A good group fitness instructor can help build relationships between members and the facility.

Think about the member who comes to the gym every Tuesday because they don’t want to miss your class.

Or the member who brings a friend to your class.

Or the person who was nervous about joining a gym but now feels comfortable because they found a class and instructor they enjoy.

Those relationships can affect member retention.

You probably can’t calculate exactly how many membership dollars your class generates, but you may be able to show signs of your value through:

• Consistent attendance
• Growing class attendance
• Waitlists
• Repeat participants
• Member comments
• Referrals
• Requests for additional classes

These things matter to a fitness facility.

What If Your Gym Manager Says No to Your Raise?

A no doesn’t have to mean the conversation is over.

Find out why.

Ask:

“What would I need to accomplish to be considered for an increase in pay?”

• If your manager says attendance needs to improve, ask what numbers they would like to see.
• If the problem is experience, ask when it would make sense to have another conversation about a raise.
• If the problem is simply the current budget, ask when the next employee review will occur.

Try to leave the meeting with a measurable goal and a date rather than:

“We’ll talk about it sometime.”

If the facility can’t increase your base rate, you can also discuss other forms of compensation.

Depending on the gym, some possibilities might include:

• Paid programming time
• Paid staff meetings
• Higher commission or percentage for personal training sessions
• Paid sick days
• Pay for last-minute class cancellations
• A higher rate for teaching last-minute substitute classes
• A guaranteed minimum payment if a class has low attendance
• Compensation for training/mentoring new instructors
• Mileage or travel reimbursement if you teach at multiple locations
• Reimbursement for certification or continuing education
• Opportunities for higher-paying responsibilities

A dollar isn’t the only thing that has value.

Should You Leave If Your Gym Won’t Pay More?

Sometimes asking for a raise helps you discover something important.

Your employer may simply be unwilling or unable to pay the market rate for your work.

That doesn’t automatically mean you should quit.

You may value your schedule, coworkers, members, location, benefits, or flexibility enough to stay.

But look at the entire situation.

Suppose you have demonstrated your value, taken on more work, researched the market, asked professionally for an increase, and discovered that nearby employers consistently pay substantially more.

At some point, it makes sense to ask yourself:

Would I be better off working somewhere else?

You don’t have to resign first. In fact, it’s probably in your best interest not to do that.

Don’t quit your day job immediately.

Look at available local positions at other facilities.

Sometimes the best raise comes from your current employer.

Sometimes it comes from your next one.

Start Tracking Your Value Before You Ask For a Raise

Don’t wait until you want more money to begin gathering evidence.

Keep a simple record of your accomplishments throughout the year.

Track things such as:

• Class attendance
• Positive member comments
• Classes you cover
• New certifications
• Continuing education
• Additional responsibilities
• New class formats you’ve learned to teach
• Special programs or events you manage or help with

That record can also help you during annual reviews or when applying for another position.

When the time comes to discuss compensation, you won’t have to say:

“I feel like I deserve more.” You can show your manager why.

Bottom Line: Asking for a Raise as a Group Fitness Instructor

If you believe you are underpaid, don’t build your case around how much money you need.

Build it around the value you provide to the gym and its members.

Research what comparable instructors in your area make. Look at how much time you really spend doing the job. Keep track of attendance, reliability, responsibilities, education, and other ways you help the facility.

Then ask for a specific rate and explain why you believe it is reasonable.

Your manager can still say no.

But being nervous about the conversation shouldn’t make the decision for you.

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