Quick answer: Illinois employs about 19,830 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:
Licensing and Credentials in Illinois
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.
Earning the Degree While You Work
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 Near You
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.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 55 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
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.
What Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Earn in Illinois
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Illinois earn a median $46,800 per year, below the national median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Kinesiology Pay and Employment in Illinois at a Glance
Metric
Illinois
National
Source
Median annual wage
$46,800
$47,160
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$31,210
$28,800
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$35,190
$35,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$61,960
$61,730
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$92,780
$83,100
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
19,830
322,930
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.57
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
11.9%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Illinois Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Illinois median of $46,800 sits below 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 1.57 puts Illinois well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Fitness employment tracks population and disposable income; clinical exercise roles follow hospital systems and rehabilitation providers.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), exercise trainers and group fitness instructors wages in Illinois vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
16,350
$47,680
$55,050
$31,470
$94,920
St. Louis
3,200
$36,500
$42,520
$28,600
$63,740
Peoria
510
$43,900
$46,950
$31,200
$61,940
Rockford
410
$37,290
$44,260
$31,670
$58,820
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
360
$32,670
$36,810
$26,330
$50,990
Bloomington
310
$39,720
$46,150
$31,200
$75,020
Champaign-Urbana
290
$42,870
$45,540
$31,200
$66,350
Springfield
260
$36,060
$40,360
$31,200
$56,290
Decatur
110
$31,200
$36,400
$31,200
$48,470
Kankakee
70
$35,040
$43,890
$31,200
$59,710
Cape Girardeau
70
$37,450
$42,620
$29,010
$51,630
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 .
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Illinois is $46,800, below the national median of $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $35,190 at the 25th percentile to $61,960 at the 75th.
How many exercise trainers and group fitness instructors work in Illinois?
Illinois holds about 19,830 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).
Do I need a license to work as a exercise professional in Illinois?
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.
Can I earn a kinesiology bachelor's or master's online while working in Illinois?
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.
What is the highest-paying area of Illinois for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?
Among Illinois metro areas with published data, Chicago reports the highest median at $47,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?
On pay, the state median of $46,800 sits below the national $47,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.57 means the occupation is more 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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (SOC 39-9031), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
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/.
