If you're a qualified personal trainer looking for ideas on where to take your career or an individual reviewing what alternative jobs to Personal Training are out there, this article has you covered.
We will break down careers similar to Personal Training that are both employed and freelance with salaries, job responsibilities and who the major employer types are.
Fitness tutors and assessors are in big demand in the UK.
A Fitness tutor is someone who generally works for a Training provider that specialises in delivering fitness based qualifications as well as universities and colleges amongst other educational establishments.
As a Fitness Tutor you will teach, guide and support the next generation of fitness professionals and help them realise their potential.
This alternative career to personal training comes with positions that can be full-time in the classroom Monday - Friday as well as remote and freelance work being available.
If you’re someone looking for a role where you can really make a lasting impact on other people, have good communications skills and a good academic understanding of fitness principles and training.
A fitness tutor must be qualified in the discipline they are teaching in addition to holding a vocational or academic teaching qualification which can be completed whilst your on the job.
A career similar to a Personal Trainer in essence is that of a strength and conditioning coach (S & C coach).
S & C coaches are individuals who work with amateur and professional athletes to enhance their sporting performance and mitigate injuries through tailored, periodised training plans.
Strength and Conditioning coaches identify physiological gaps in the athletes performance based on their sport and positon and then design their plans accordingly to based off the data they obtain for optimal performance.
You will find some private gyms that specialise in strength and conditioning, but the pinnacle for most S & C coaches is to either work with a professional athlete or sports team.
There are two ways you can qualify as an S & C Coach, the first is going to university and studying a strength and conditioning degree or you can complete a vocational Level 4 Strength and Conditioning Course.
Running is one of the most popular recreational fitness activities with reports showing that a whopping 5.9 million people were consistently running in 2022 and this number was even higher during the pandemic which has created a demand for running coaches.
This is a great alternative job to a personal trainer that you could transition into with relative ease as the fundamental principles of the job roles are very similar.
Running coaches can operate both remotely through administering plans digitally or by taking running groups and one to one training locally.
You can find remote running jobs at specific running coaching businesses as well as face to face positions at local running clubs, sport centres and universities.
Although you can get insurance and operate as a running coach with just a personal training certificate, it is strongly advised to gain running specific qualifications from UK athletics that will help you train runners competing in different types of events, distances and terrain.
If you like the idea of working at a gym but in a different capacity to Personal Training, becoming a club manager might be right for you.
Club Managers oversee the overall performance of the gym from memberships sales and Personal Training through to front of house and operations. You will create business plans and conduct forecasts as well as have input in the marketing and sale strategies deployed at your branch.
There is plenty of opportunity to further develop your career into more regional and even National managerial positions.
The biggest employers of club managers are Gym chains, however you will find roles at Leisure centres, sport complexes, resorts and even hotel chains. Most companies offer some sort of bonus structure for gym managers based on sales performance and operational compliance, which can be monthly or quarterly.
As the role comes with a large amount of responsibility and duties, you will normally only find full-time employed based positions.
If you’re looking for a role that is heavily involved in the fitness sector where you can share your knowledge of fitness through a different medium, then a fitness content writer could be right down your street.
Fitness writers need strong english language skills, be diligent and have a perfectionist type of attitude.
Virtually every type of fitness business employs fitness content writers in both freelance and employed positions, whether its fitness equipment companies, training providers, supplement brands, fitness apparel businesses and even health and fitness jobs boards just like this one.
Most brands look for individuals that have a strong content marketing background, english skills, are qualified fitness professionals or have a fitness related degree.
This alternative job for a personal trainer is great for someone who doesn’t mind working from a desk, potentially remotely and ultimately loves writing about fitness based topics.
A good fitness related job that Personal Trainers often thrive in is in sales but sales revolving around a fitness oriented service or product.
PT’s often do well in this environment as sales is part of their existing job role and they are selling a product or service in an industry they are passionate about and potentially have a good understanding of.
You can find sales roles across a wide array of sales positions in the fitness sector, such as fitness apps, software, gym memberships, courses and qualifications to name just a few.
Most sales roles come with healthy bonus and commissions schemes that can really enhance your on top of earnings (OTE) as well as ample opportunities to progress into sales management positions and business development roles.
Successful sales people are strong communicators, can relate to people of all different backgrounds and you need to be resilient, determined and analytical to be successful.
A fitness manager's role is dynamic, combining both active and operational duties. In this position, you are responsible for leading a team of fitness professionals and guiding them to meet monthly financial objectives and customer satisfaction.
You will be responsible for enhancing gym members experience, recruiting trainers, and mentoring them to develop their business as well as driving secondary revenue spend on fitness related items such as supplements.
The role is multifaceted, requiring a blend of administrative and managerial skills, alongside direct involvement in delivering training sessions and fitness classes.
Fitness managers traditionally are employed by large health clubs and is the first step into a managerial capacity for many trainers and can help you progress up the fitness management ladder to general manager, regional or even National Fitness Manager.
Fitness managers usually work standard hours, from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, although this can vary depending on the employer's operational style or if you are needed to cover a class at short notice.
A personal trainer career alternative that you might not know is an avenue for you to explore is that of a health and wellbeing manager.
A health and wellbeing manager is someone who manages the wellbeing of either gym members, staff or customers depending on the employer's needs and business model.
Large employers utilise health and wellbeing managers to drive workplace productivity, provide mental support to employees and offer fitness related services to keep staff physically well and engaged.
You can find careers as a health and wellbeing manager at large companies across a variety of sectors including tech companies, non-profit and charitable organisations that promote wellbeing in local communities and insurance providers that develop wellness programmes such as Vitality.
If nutrition is an aspect of health and fitness that you have a strong background in or passion for, being a nutrition coach, advisor or specialist is a job similar to PT that still takes into account a client's exercise routine, but places emphasis on helping clients managing their nutritional intake and lifestyle choices.
You will run one to one nutrition consultations and sessions to help clients improve nutritional behaviour, implement lifestyles changes and help prevent diseases developing such as diabetes.
Many nutrition coaches or advisors operate online, performing consultations, administering plans and support digitally meaning you can reach a wide client base from all cornerstones of the UK.
There are ample amounts of companies that hire nutrition advisors including private medical care companies, fitness studios, clinics and even supplement companies.
Those successful as a nutrition advisor have an underlying knowledge of nutrition and food, be able to simplify information, be reliable, trustworthy and have compassion for others.
The level of qualification required to be a nutrition advisor differs depending on the employer, with some asking just a strong understanding of nutrition, whilst others requesting a Level 4 specialist nutrition certificate or degree in a nutritional discipline.
Please note with any of these qualifications you can’t apply for dietician jobs as you must have completed a degree in dietetics and be on the register of dieticians in order to fulfil this type of role.
Whether you love sport holistically or have a passion for a single sport like cricket, volleyball or basketball, you can find sports coaching roles that are both general and specific.
This job is like a personal trainer in many aspects as the role requires you to follow pre-designed coaching sessions that are fun and engaging and to give constructive feedback to participants, coupled with training advice and support.
You can find sport coaching roles at a wide variety of employers, such as at schools, specific training providers, retreats, sport centres and activity centres.
You can find yourself working with kids or kids with behaviour issues, thus a DBS check is mandatory. But most commonly, you will find most roles are working one-to-one with customers or in small groups where you will oversee the fluidity of coaching sessions and the participants health and safety.
You must be passionate about physical activity and have a broad knowledge of sport if the role is more holistic. Most roles require you to hold qualifications like sports coaching qualification either generally or within a particular sport. Some companies and institutions do however accept applications from candidates with teaching backgrounds as well as Personal Training.
The Rehabilitation coach pathway is a career for someone who is a qualified personal trainer that specialises in exercise rehabilitation for clients recovering from injuries, surgery and managing chronic conditions.
Professional sports teams including Premiership football clubs and rugby teams as well as private medical firms and the NHS hire rehabilitation fitness coaches to help athletes regain fitness in a safe and timely manner.
You can also add this as an arm to your freelance business and target individuals looking for expert guidance and support when recovering from surgery or everyday injuries.
This role requires you to to work in collaboration with medical professionals such as a physiotherapist and sports scientists to create assessments and programmes targeting the reconditioning of athletes.
This alternative job for a personal trainer has different qualification requirements depending on the employer, some require you to hold a Level 4 in Exercise Rehabilitation or a Level 4 strength and conditioning qualification, whilst others insist that you have a degree in physiotherapy, sports science or the equivalent.
If you’re a confident individual who has built up a career within the health and fitness industry, has a large fitness following or has a strong academic background within a certain jurisdiction of fitness or health, becoming a fitness speaker at a fitness event or for a major brand could be ideal.
As expected you must consider yourself to be an expert within your field, relish speaking in front of large groups, articulate, and consider yourself an inspirational individual.
Work is almost always freelance and paid via a one off fee, but you can get reoccurring contracted work if you do a good job.
Fitness speakers tend to get hired by fitness expos, conventions, large brands as well as getting opportunities to feature in the public eye via TV shows, magazines and other media outlets.
Sports massage therapist (SMT) is an alternative career for a personal trainer that is very complimentary to PT as the clientele base for a SMT closely aligns.
You will generally work with individuals who regularly engage in sport or physical activity that have suffered muscular injuries, looking to get assistance in preventing injuries, trying to boost their recovery time and increase performance through enhancing mobility and muscular strength.
Becoming an SMT is one of the most popular options for Personal trainers looking to add an extra revenue stream to their freelance business, but it also it leads to prospective job roles at clinics, sports clubs, fitness studios, fitness event companies and private medical care companies.
A successful sports massage therapist is a person who is professional, sensitive to client’s emotional state, is administratively organised and reliable.
In order to work as a sports massage therapist you must at minimum have completed a vocational Level 3 qualification in Sports Massage or hold a degree in sports massage therapy.
Love outdoors adventure come rain or shine? If so an outdoor activity instructor or team leader could be the alternative career to personal training you have been seeking.
The main responsibilities of an outdoor activity leader is to facilitate fun, but safe outdoor activities for individual customers and corporate team bonding days.
You will take activities from everything ranging from high level ropes courses and hikes through to water sports and climbing.
You plan activity sessions, perform equipment checks and demonstrations and have a keen eye for health and safety. An outdoor activity role is geared towards people that are practically oriented, can work independently and have the ability to remain calm under stressful situations.
The bigger employers are companies that specialise outdoor adventure and fitness event companies. Many employers do not require you to hold a specific qualification, whilst others ask that you hold a recognised certificate in delivering outdoor activities that you can gain from a specific training provider.
A great way to advance your business or an alternative career for a PT is to complete your Level 3 in Exercise Referral and become an exercise referral specialist.
Exercise referral specialists work with medical practitioners such as GPs in writing training programmes for clients that have certain medical conditions that can be better managed through regular physical activity such as diabetes, osteoporosis and hypertension.
Certain Leisure centres, trusts, health clubs and wellbeing centres hire exercise referral to help patients that have been recommended by the NHS or private medical care companies to speak to an exercise referral professional.
Additionally you can set-up as a freelance referral specialist and seek opportunities locally by collaborating with local GP surgeries and add an extra demographic to your existing PT business.
Exercise referral specialists are people are proficient in customer care, good evaluating and assessing clients abilities relevant to their condition and perhaps most importantly understanding of clients needs.
Both large and small brands work with fitness influencers of various sizes to promote their products and services.
Contrary to what you might think, it’s not just the size of your following that matters!
Brands look for individuals to promote their services that have high levels of engagement, which is not the same as number of followers), people whose views align to their brand principles and who’s audience has similarities to their typical customers.
You can build your social media presence via any other major social platforms like Tik Tok and YouTube or combine multiple platforms to engage users through social media.
Once you have started to build up a community you can start liaising with brands or even in some cases even be employed directly by a brand to promote their services through your channels.
Fitness and wellness retreats are now big business as clients look for ways to enjoy exercise whilst being on holiday.
A Fitness Retreat Coach gives you the opportunity to work away from home either in other aspects of the UK or even get the opportunity to travel abroad to places like Bali or India, all with free accommodation, sounds good right?
Fitness retreats generally revolve around classes or a particular type of training. For example, you can find yoga specific fitness retreats, where you would need to be qualified in teaching yoga or particular sporting based retreats that require you to hold a relevant sport coaching certificate.
This alternative career to Personal Training is best suited to people who are social beings, with a strong customer service focused mindset.
An alternative career similar to a PT and a long-term aspiration for many fitness professionals is to one day open your very own gym or fitness studio.
By opening your own gym you can create the gym the exact way you want, whether you want to start a powerlifting gym, strength and conditioning studio or high end boutique style gym, you can design the look and feel of the gym the way you deem fit.
Starting a gym does require resource but there are over 7,000 privately owned gyms in the UK, more than there ever has been and if they can do it, why can't you?
To open a gym successively you need to not just have a solid background in fitness, but have a good understanding of marketing, sales and finance. Additionally, you will need to be resourceful, hard working and willing to get out of your comfort zone.
Your gym’s size, style and structure will determine how much you can make as a gym owner, but the earning potential is ultimately limitless as you scale to multiple locations.
Most martial arts instructor jobs request candidates to have a fitness instructing, personal training or sports coaching qualification as it covers how to deliver coaching to groups, which is fundamental to being a martial arts teacher.
As you can expect you need to have at least a few years experience within a particular form of martial arts that the employer is hiring for or hold a certain level of belt.
Martial arts instructors have a job similar to Personal Training as you will be delivering sessions in a similar fashion, either one to one or groups.
A martial arts teacher will plan lessons, manage classes, demonstrate techniques, motivate students and ensure a safe environment.
You can find martial art teacher roles at Martial art academies and gyms, specialist studios as well at schools as part of before or after school run initiatives.
Most martial arts instructors are freelance, hiring space at a gym, sports hall or the equivalent to run their business from.
If the idea of impacting young people’s lives through physical activity excites you, the role of a youth physical activity worker is a good alternative job for personal trainers where you can put your PT qualifications to another use.
Youth physical activity instructors are individuals that facilitate games, sports and physical activities to help young people develop skills such as team work, discipline and communication amongst other work based life skills.
The ultimate goal for this role is to help challenging kids develop the life skills and lead to employment opportunities, therefore patience, compassion and leadership are sought after skills for this type of position.
Most major employers will require you to pass a DBS check due to the nature of the role and holding a Level 3 PT qualification is preferable.
Most employers are specialised training providers that offer vocational training for this niche, but you can also find employment opportunities at local councils and private companies that offer sport camps or are government backed charities.
This role is an alternative career to Personal Training for those that have a deep love for yoga and teaching other people.
As a yoga instructor, you'll craft engaging sessions and sequences that cater to the objectives of the class and the abilities of your students. Your role involves more than just guiding classes and adjusting postures; you will also promote mindfulness and mental health among your participants.
Many yoga instructors operate on a freelance basis, rotating between gym-based classes and private yoga studios. However, there are opportunities for advancement into roles such as becoming a yoga studio manager, class coordinator, or even starting your own yoga-focused studio or retreat.
You have the flexibility to specialise in various yoga styles, from the calming practices of restorative yoga to the more challenging demands of power yoga. You can also design classes specifically for distinct demographics, including pregnant women or the elderly.
If you want a job role in sport that values your personal training background and has high job satisfaction, then the position of Sport Development Officer might be a perfect fit for you.
In case you’re not familiar with the sport development officer role, it entails working for councils, charities or schools to drive participation in sport or physical activity in local communities.
You will oversee projects, coach and supervise physical activity and sporting events in your local community. It is your responsibility to promote the activities you run to get local people involved and to help increase social inclusion and develop in partnerships with schools, youth development centres and amateur sports clubs.
Most of these roles are full-time, employed positions and do not hold a prerequisite educational requirement to work there, however you most likely will need to pass a DBS check.
A fitness event manager is someone who plans and coordinates the smooth running of a designated fitness event.
There is a wide variety of events within health and fitness that employ fitness event managers, from fitness expos, charities, bodybuilding competitions and conventions through to corporate wellness days, fitness festivals, fitness retreats and various sporting events.
Although an alternative career for a fitness professional it does require many of the same skills a personal trainer has.
You will oversee the registration process, liaise with business’ and suppliers, attract sponsors, coordinate logistics and gather feedback from attendees.
This is a high pressure job that comes with lots of responsibility and has a wide spectrum of skills. This includes sales and promotion to drum up interest, organisation and time management, delegation as well as being adaptable to issues when they arise.
An option that is a very similar job similar to that of a Personal Trainer is to that of a Physical Activity Instructor (PTI) for the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
PTIs are individuals that lead physical training drills, fitness tests and run sporting events for individuals in the Navy, Army and royal air force.
It is imperative that soldiers in particular are in good physical shape and condition all year round in preparation for being called out for a combative situation and your job role would be accountable for helping them achieve that.
This unique type of role is largely part-time with most PITs having second jobs or being involved within the armed forces in other capacities.
The MOD does not require you to hold any previously studied qualifications, but it is preferred if you have a strong fitness background and you must also pass a fitness test to be considered for the role.
This is a largely expanding marketing with more private companies establishing themselves in offering companies wellness services to business that are trying to increase staff engagement and improve company culture.
Corporate wellness trainers are individuals who help who lead wellbeing activities for teams either both at work or out of it.
They also help provide guidance on mental wellbeing, promote healthy habits and orchestrate team building through physical activity.
Some large brands particularly in big industries have corporate wellness managers in-house, but most work for wellbeing initiatives, act independently or as a training company that specialises in wellness support.
This is a very popular career alternative for a Personal Trainer that embraces both the mental side of clients wellbeing as well as the physical.
As a life coach you will set general wellness based goals, which extends to understanding clients mindsets, motivations, stress management through to financial and career coaching, Personal Training as well as giving them an action plan that they can implement around their lifestyle.
A good life coach is someone who is emphatic, good at solving problems, has good conflict resolution skills, interpersonal skills and is a good active listener.
There is no predefined qualification needed to be a life coach, however when dealing with people's wellbeing revolving around their finances and health, it is highly recommended to obtain either a life coaching qualification from a vocational provider or completing a specialist course offered by an awarding body.
Most life coaches are freelance, however there are opportunities for full-time employment at charities that support mental health, wellbeing centres, pt studios that specialise in this area as well as youth awareness programmes.
If you want to pursue a career in academia and are intrigued by the science behind health and fitness then the career of an exercise science researcher could be an exciting option.
An Exercise Science Researcher is a specialist who performs scientific research to explore the impacts of physical activity on the human body, aiming to create evidence-based guidelines for enhancing health, fitness, and athletic performance.
As an exercise science researcher you will contribute to formulating hypotheses, collect data, write reports, recruit participants, as well as performing tests and measuring and analyzing data.
The most common employers people associate Exercise Science Researchers with universities and educational institutions, however you can find an abundance of full-time salaried roles at professional sport organisations, sports equipment companies, biotech companies, government agencies and non-profit health charities to name just a few.
If you have a strong passion for a particular sport you can become a sports performance analyst, which is where you specialise in evaluating sporting performance using technology and develop strategies in coherence with other coaches to help improve sporting performance.
This alternative career path for a personal trainer involves closely working with coaches and athletes to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement that applies to both their physical and tactical attributes,
You will try and find trends and patterns in performance as well as monitoring athletes physical conditioning to ensure they are working within the correct intensities whilst maximise their training efforts, whilst trying to keep them injury free.
The most common employers of sports performance analysts are professional sports clubs and elite athletes, but you can find roles at sport technology companies and sport specific governing bodies.
There are plenty of roles that you can find that are good alternatives careers to personal training and if you click this link here, you can explore a large range of live jobs in fitness.