"How long does it take to become a personal trainer in New Jersey?"

"Most paths into the personal trainer field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do personal trainers need a license in New Jersey?"

"No statewide license is required for personal trainers in New Jersey. Most employers expect industry certifications such as NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and ACE Personal Trainer Certification."

"What apprenticeships are available for personal trainers in New Jersey?"

"In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Personal Trainer in New Jersey

Q: "How much do personal trainers earn in New Jersey?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), personal trainers in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,870. Employment concentration in New Jersey is about 1.28 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for personal trainers in New Jersey?"

"New Jersey currently employs approximately 11,350 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn a median annual wage of $59,870 ($28.79/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 11,350 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 27.0% above the national median of $47,160 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,870 ($28.79/hr)
25th percentile: $39,300 per year
75th percentile: $80,020 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $104,000 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,620 per year
Workers employed in New Jersey: 11,350
Versus national median: 27.0% above the U.S. median of $47,160
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.28 - this occupation is more concentrated in New Jersey than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

New Jersey employs approximately 11,350 personal trainers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,870 ¹. The state’s concentration of personal trainer jobs is 1.28x 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 New Jersey, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Personal Trainer in New Jersey

How do I become a personal trainer in New Jersey? New Jersey does not require a state license for personal trainers, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as NASM Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Personal Trainer Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

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 New Jersey? No state license is required, but certifications such as NASM Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Personal Trainer Certification are expected by most employers.

What do personal trainers earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for personal trainers in New Jersey is $59,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,620 and experienced professionals can earn $104,000 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New Jersey): $59,870 per year ¹

Personal Trainer Certification Options in New Jersey

New Jersey does not require a state license to work as a personal trainer. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for personal trainers include:

NASM Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Personal Trainer Certification

For more information, visit the NASM - National Academy of Sports Medicine ³. Contact training programs in New Jersey for details on certification preparation courses.

Personal Trainer Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), exercise trainers and group fitness instructors wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	22,970	$53,580	$65,410	$35,210	$107,170
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	7,820	$48,040	$52,320	$29,010	$76,790
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	590	$46,110	$48,580	$28,880	$75,680
Trenton-Princeton	580	$52,690	$58,460	$34,820	$81,260
Atlantic City-Hammonton	270	$61,440	$64,730	$34,970	$94,800
Vineland	80	$43,140	$51,440	$32,220	$78,810

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 New Jersey

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest personal trainer employment within New Jersey according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Trenton-Princeton	580	$52,690
Atlantic City-Hammonton	270	$61,440
Vineland	80	$43,140

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for personal trainers in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 11,350 personal trainers ¹. Nationally, personal trainer employment is projected to grow 11.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Jersey.

How much do personal trainers earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for personal trainers in New Jersey is $59,870, which is $13,690 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NASM - National Academy of Sports Medicine: https://www.nasm.org/ ↩︎

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)