How to Become A Personal Trainer in Illinois
Illinois employs approximately 19,830 personal trainers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,800 1. The state’s concentration of personal trainer jobs is 1.57x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, personal trainer employment is projected to grow 11.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,200 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a personal trainer in Illinois, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Personal Trainer in Illinois
How do I become a personal trainer in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as EXERCISE PERSON, OWNER/TRAINER/DRIVER, TRAINER. The licensing authority is the Illinois Racing Board 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for personal trainers. The Illinois Racing Board oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do personal trainers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for personal trainers in Illinois is $46,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,210 and experienced professionals can earn $92,780 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Illinois Racing Board
- Median wage (Illinois): $46,800 per year 1
Personal Trainer License Requirements in Illinois
The Illinois Racing Board oversees personal trainer licensing in Illinois 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| EXERCISE PERSON | An individual who gallops or exercises the horse on the track each morning. |
| OWNER/TRAINER/DRIVER | A person who is both a driver and a trainer as well as an owner in the horse racing industry. |
| TRAINER | A person who trains and enters horses to race for one or more owners and who is responsible for hiring grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders, pony persons, assistant trainers, veterinarians and blacksmi… |
| DRIVER/TRAINER | Any person in the horse racing industry, who is able to drive and train a standard bred (harness) horse which pulls a sulky at either a trot or pace. |
| ATHLETIC TRAINER | An individual who, under the direction of a team and/or consulting physician, carries out the practice of preventive and emergency care and physical reconditioning of injuries incurred by athletes par… |
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Personal Trainer Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.
Top Metros for Personal trainers in Illinois
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest personal trainer employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 16,350 | $47,680 |
| Peoria | 510 | $43,900 |
| Rockford | 410 | $37,290 |
| Bloomington | 310 | $39,720 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 290 | $42,870 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for personal trainers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 19,830 personal trainers 1. Nationally, personal trainer employment is projected to grow 11.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a personal trainer in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Racing Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Illinois.
How much do personal trainers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for personal trainers in Illinois is $46,800, which is $620 above the national median of $46,180 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
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/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Racing Board - Licensing Information: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/irb/Pages/Licensing.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |