How to Switch to a Fitness Career in 2025
A new year is the perfect time to switch up your goals and start something fresh. It’s a time when you can focus, set aspirations for the upcoming months and get those things done that you keep meaning to. A new year is also the time when many people focus on their fitness, looking for a chance to undo the bad habits and the unhealthy eating the festive season brings and get in shape ahead of the summer months. If you’re someone that is looking to make changes to both your career and your fitness regime, it could be that you’ve considered a career in fitness. If so, you might be wondering what this could entail, how to get a job here and where to start. Which is where we come in. In this article we take a look at some top tips on how you can switch to a fitness career in 2025. Keep on reading to find out more.
What different fitness careers are there?
There are many different fitness careers out there, all encompassing different parts of the industry. It might be you want a hands-on approach with clients, perhaps you want a 1 to 1 job role, or maybe you want something more behind the scenes. No matter what you’re after, as long as you do your research and ensure you have the right experience or training, you’re sure to love it. Some of the different fitness careers you can try out include the following:
Personal Trainer
If you’re into fitness, why not become a personal trainer? Personal training is a great career choice as it’s something that you can be flexible with your hours and there is no limit to how much you can earn as you can keep taking on more clients and charging more. Most personal trainers rent the space from a gym and then have their own client base which they can build up. You can help your clients get on a fitness plan and can have them once a week, a few times a month or more depending on what their preference is and what your schedule is looking like. The key to this is providing a solid programme for them to follow and being kind, approachable and getting them results.
Lifeguard
If swimming is your forte, why not become a lifeguard? Being a lifeguard involves watching over swimmers and swimming activities that take place in pools, lakes, beaches and other facilities to ensure everyone is safe. You would need to be able to spot if anyone gets into trouble or is messing around in the water and be able to dive in and save them if they were. You’ll need first aid knowledge as well as know how to perform CPR. There will be training provided for all of this to ensure you know what you’re doing!
Fitness Instructor
A fitness instructor is someone who will teach group classes. This could be at your local gym facility, in your own space, or even down the local park. These tend to be groups of people learning things such as pilates, aerobics, boxercise and many more. You might have a set routine to follow, or can make up your own exercise classes depending on the programme the facility is following, or what you are being trained in. You will typically teach a number of classes throughout the day and sometimes in the evening too.
PE Teacher
Perhaps you have worked with children in the past and liked it, or maybe it’s a field you want to get into. A PE teacher will typically take the physical education classes at a school or college facility, teaching children of all different ages throughout the week. You will need to set a lesson plan and be able to teach everything from dance and gymnastics to football and rugby. You also might be required to help your students with passing exams and teaching them for these, depending on the age they are and what the requirements of the school are.
Dietician
Are you interested in the health and wellbeing side of the fitness industry more than the physical side? If so, then a dietician is a great position for you to look onto. A dietician is knowledgeable about the dietary side of being healthy and fit and can help those that need to be healthier or lose weight follow a plan to do so. You will be in charge of helping them change their eating habits, teach them about their diet and recommend vitamins and supplements that could support their overall wellbeing.
Bodybuilding Coach
Bodybuilding is quite a niche area of fitness so if it’s something you are interested in, why not give it a go and train others? A bodybuilding coach will work with individuals, athletes, competitors and others who are trying to lift heavy weights as part of their sport regime. It could be they have a competition to enter and you will help them train for this, or perhaps they want to reach a certain body weight and goal. You will help them come up with a plan using scientific research to get the most from their workout.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist is someone who people will often be referred to by a doctor if they are suffering from an illness or injury whereby they need to recover. As a physical therapist it will be your role to help examine them, understand what is wrong and why they might be in pain and then come up with a rehabilitation plan to get them back on track with their wellbeing. You’ll help them with everything from increasing their joint mobility, to reducing pain and improving the overall health of their muscles. If you don’t want to be a Physical Therapist but want to be in something similar, you could also be a Physical Therapist Assistant.
What are some tips to switch to a career in fitness?
If you are looking to switch to a career within the fitness field, some of the things you can do that can help you secure the position include:
- Check it’s not a fad
- Ensure you have the right qualifications
- Speak to people in the field already
- Make sure the salary meets your expectations
- Find out about the training and how it works
- Do your research online, speaking in forums or on websites to find out what the career is like for those that work in it already
- Do research on local companies to see their reviews and what their job openings are
- Find jobs that require similar attributes to what you possess already so you can transfer these skills over
These are just a few tips that can help you to switch to a fitness career in 2025 and some ideas of what you can do. It’s a good idea to speak to others in the field already to find out more about what the role entails and ensure it’s what you want it to be. The last thing you want is to sign up for a career only to find that it’s not what you expected and that you don’t want to continue pursuing it. Finding out things such as what the job involves, the salary and the hours can all really help you to be prepared. What are some top tips you have for switching to a fitness career in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!