Quick answer: Connecticut employs about 2,850 exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through target employers on the certification they require. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare kinesiology programs enrolling now:
Kinesiology itself is not licensed. Fitness and clinical exercise roles typically ask for widely recognized industry certifications alongside or instead of the degree, and clinical settings weight the exercise science coursework; requirements genuinely vary by employer and setting.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with target employers on the certification they require that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 6 schools within 37 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 6 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Connecticut earn a median $61,580 per year, above the national median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Connecticut | National | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $61,580 | $47,160 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 10th percentile | $34,010 | $28,800 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 25th percentile | $45,660 | $35,280 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 75th percentile | $80,790 | $61,730 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 90th percentile | $103,590 | $83,100 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Employment | 2,850 | 322,930 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Location quotient | 0.81 | 1.00 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected change (2024-34) | not published by state | 11.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
The Connecticut median of $61,580 sits above the national median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.81 puts Connecticut below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $73,910 | 1,120 |
| New Haven | $72,800 | 420 |
| Norwich | $65,990 | 110 |
| Waterbury | $55,620 | 220 |
| Hartford | $48,860 | 880 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Fitness employment tracks population and disposable income; clinical exercise roles follow hospital systems and rehabilitation providers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), exercise trainers and group fitness instructors wages in Connecticut vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | 1,120 | $73,910 | $74,300 | $34,750 | $113,840 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | 880 | $48,860 | $58,470 | $34,010 | $92,920 |
| New Haven | 420 | $72,800 | $69,470 | $34,200 | $98,470 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | 220 | $55,620 | $61,370 | $34,010 | $91,520 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | 110 | $65,990 | $66,330 | $34,010 | $88,110 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Bridgeport * Hartford * New Haven * Norwich * Waterbury
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Connecticut is $61,580, above the national median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $45,660 at the 25th percentile to $80,790 at the 75th.
Connecticut holds about 2,850 exercise professional jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 322,930, and BLS projects about 74,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Kinesiology itself is not licensed. Fitness and clinical exercise roles typically ask for widely recognized industry certifications alongside or instead of the degree, and clinical settings weight the exercise science coursework; requirements genuinely vary by employer and setting. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with target employers on the certification they require before you enroll in any program.
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies target employers on the certification they require.
Among Connecticut metro areas with published data, Bridgeport reports the highest median at $73,910 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
On pay, the state median of $61,580 sits above the national $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.81 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
