How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Trainer?

Exercise offers proven health benefits. An effective workout can help manage chronic health conditions, reduce stress, and strengthen your heart. Whether you’ve reached a plateau with your current workouts or feel uncertain about returning to the gym, a personal trainer could help you make progress toward your fitness goals. 

What does a personal trainer do?

Personal trainers are fitness professionals who work directly with clients of all ages and fitness needs, either privately or through gyms. They typically: 

• Help clients establish realistic fitness goals

• Create customized workout programs

• Teach proper exercise techniques

• Guide clients to prevent workout injuries

Most trainers start with an initial consultation to assess your current fitness level and discuss your health background and fitness goals. This helps them develop a personalized fitness program for you. Many gyms provide the first meeting at no additional cost to a member. A personal trainer can meet with you in person at a location — such as a gym, park or your home — or online.

How much does a personal trainer cost?

Cost varies for a standard personal training session, which usually lasts 60 minutes, but averages $40 to $70 nationwide. According to the Personal Trainer Development Center, personal trainers typically charge $60 to $70 an hour for in-person workouts. The Michigan Fitness Association reports a wider range of $50 to $100 per session, which may last more or less than an hour. Costs can vary based on location. Find Your Trainer reports that, across the country, personal trainers charge $29 to $166 per in-person session. Virtual training, which happens online or through apps, often costs less. 

Many trainers offer package discounts when you purchase multiple sessions in advance.

Personal Trainer Average Costs By Location for In-Person Training

What factors affect personal trainer pricing?

Personal trainer rates depend on several factors:

• Region: High-cost areas such as New York City or San Francisco often have prices of $100 or more per hour. Trainers in other markets typically charge $40 to $70 per hour, on average.

• Experience: Seasoned trainers can charge more hourly. People earlier in their training careers usually charge less.

• Credentials: Trainers who are certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), or the American Council on Exercise (ACE) may charge more.

• Workout location: Online sessions can be the most affordable option. Personal training at a gym where you have a membership or in a public space can be the least costly option for in-person sessions. Workouts at your home often cost the most because having a trainer travel to you is a premium service.  

• Session length: Personal training sessions often run 30, 60, or 90 minutes.

• Solo or group training: Solo sessions cost more because you are paying for the personal attention. Group sessions are typically more affordable.

• Area of expertise: Rehabilitation specialists and sports performance coaches often charge higher personal training rates because they have expertise in dealing with injuries and athletes.

Will my insurance pay for personal training?

Original Medicare and Medicaid will not cover personal training fees, and neither will most commercial health plans. If you need the service to rehabilitate a health condition beyond medically necessary physical therapy — which is often covered by insurance — personal training may be a qualified expense for one of the following tax-advantaged health accounts:

• Flexible spending account (FSA)

• Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA)

• Health savings account (HSA)

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• Gym membership vs. personal trainer: The cost of a gym membership averages $40 to $70 monthly, while personal trainers are at least as much — or more — per session. 

• Does insurance cover gym membership? Some health plans reimburse gym membership or offer discounts depending on the fitness center you choose.

• Gym membership and Medicare: Some Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans include gym membership through special programs such as SilverSneakers.

For you to get reimbursed for your costs from a tax-advantaged account, your physician or other healthcare professional must prescribe exercise for a health condition you have. The doctor also may be required to submit a letter of medical necessity for personal training to the benefits administrator for your account.

How much is a personal trainer for group training?

Trainers may charge $15 to $45 per person for each group session of personal training, but the prices can be more or less where you live. Splitting training time with other people can significantly cut your costs compared with individual training.

Where can you find a personal trainer near you?

There are several ways to find a personal trainer for in-person or online sessions. Belonging to a gym makes it easy for you to find a personal trainer on staff. Some gyms offer one or more free personal training sessions for members. For example, Planet Fitness offers free unlimited small-group training sessions.

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There are also online resources that will match you with trainers:

• US Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS): This is a directory of personal trainers who have certifications from ACE, ACSM, NSCA, and the National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF). You can also use this site to confirm the credentials of a trainer you’re considering.

• American Council on Exercise (ACE): ACE has a search tool that uses your ZIP code to help you find someone near you who is credentialed as a personal trainer by this organization.

• Find Your Trainer: Using your ZIP code, you can search for a personal trainer near you. 

Some subscription-based fitness apps, such as Future, have personal trainers available for you to meet and choose for virtual services. Then, the trainer designs a personalized program for you and contacts you daily or weekly to discuss your progress. Apps can also track your progress and share those results with your trainer. You are often able to communicate via live video calls and messaging. Be aware that an online trainer may be less able to identify injuries and improper form.

How do you choose a personal trainer?

This decision should center on your goals, needs, and limitations. Here are some considerations that can help you figure out if a particular trainer may be a good fit for you:

• Look for credentials. Personal training certifications from ACE and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) are widely respected. Both programs are rigorous and require trainers to go through a guided learning program and pass an online test.

• Ask about injuries and ailments. Ask the personal trainer how they will handle any injuries or health conditions you have.

• Check references. Get firsthand feedback from current and former clients.

Is a personal trainer worth it?

It depends. Not all personal trainers are created equal. But working with a knowledgeable personal trainer you respect can help you with accountability, motivation, proper technique, and progress toward your fitness goals.

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Written by:

Lisa Brooke Kaelin

Lisa Brooke Kaelin has more than two decades of multidisciplinary expertise spanning financial healthcare communication, corporate strategy, and investigative analysis. At GoodRx, she specializes in translating complex healthcare topics into accessible content.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

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