How much can I charge per hour as a CSCS?

[ThaiFighter_83]

I'm studying for the NSCA's CSCS exam right now, and it is TOUGH STUFF. But I'm going to do it.

I live in Woodland hills, which seems to be a pretty rich neighborhood. (It's right next door to Calabasas, and a new Equinox just opened in my backyard.)

Currently, I charge my private clients 50 dollars per hour. They pay the LA Fitness and Gold's I work at 30-60 for just a half hour, so my 50 per hour always sounds good to them. So a lot of them are going to keep going with me privately after their contract is over.

But right now, i just have a mickey-mouse cert that is not nationally recognized, and actually expired last week. I do have a Bachelor's in Kinesiology, but it was for General studies, and not exercise.

When I get the CSCS, I want to charge clients 400 dollars per hour! Lol, maybe not, but what's a ballpark estimate of what I can charge them then, if they're more than happy to pay my 50 per hour now?

[jimjos4]

i think 50 per hour is enough but if u wanna raise the price do it $5 at a time

[nickmanzoni]

You charge what you think you're worth.

I charge 65-80 dollars an hour, and I will ONLY charge 50 CASH to private clients.

[Spiceygamble]

You need to consider the basics when deciding your rates...

Where are you?
The prices on the west coast generally run higher, especially in the bigger cities like LA & south further... the price quotes need to reflect this.

How long have you been at it?
This is a no brainer... seriously.
Your level of expertise will raise your prices(*duh)


Where do you train your clients?
If you're going to work out of the gym alone, you will be putting a set rate to your sessions. If you incorporate interesting events or special sessions, your prices need to reflect that, too.
I have a big park with rolling hills & a playground behind my studio/home. I can set up "special sessions" for clients. They get to bring their dogs & do very unusual workouts(physical graffiti type stuff) but the special events will cost extra.


Try asking trainers in your area how they got started & work into the conversation the issue of rates to get a more accurate idea of the pricing. Most will be very accommodating & before you know it, you will know what to charge... you may also find the networking plays in your favor.


All the best.

[mydamnself]

Man, we're in CA. I'm in Palo Alto and used to work at Palo Alto Equinox. I'm 90 an hour and that's too cheap. I work with a guy who's $150. CSCS is only as good as your ability to train and get clients. Especially in well to do areas, a lot of people won't work with you if you're too cheap. Get a good website, find a good gym to train out of, claim every instant you've spent training anyone as experience, you're $100 out the door.
If you want to build a base check out Equinox. The trainers actually make decent scratch compared to most gyms and you'll make great contacts for when you go independent. I still work with Equinox PA doing workshops for their trainers.

[kserajuddin]

Man, we're in CA. I'm in Palo Alto and used to work at Palo Alto Equinox. I'm 90 an hour and that's too cheap. I work with a guy who's $150. CSCS is only as good as your ability to train and get clients. Especially in well to do areas, a lot of people won't work with you if you're too cheap. Get a good website, find a good gym to train out of, claim every instant you've spent training anyone as experience, you're $100 out the door.
If you want to build a base check out Equinox. The trainers actually make decent scratch compared to most gyms and you'll make great contacts for when you go independent. I still work with Equinox PA doing workshops for their trainers.

I co-sign this 100%

[jules_d1]

Ultimatley your certification does not matter. As long as you have a certification where you can become a PT, you ability to market yourself and get results will have more influence on how much you charge.

[MVP]

Ultimatley your certification does not matter. As long as you have a certification where you can become a PT, you ability to market yourself and get results will have more influence on how much you charge.

100% AGREED! The more results you provide, the more you can charge. It shows the potential client, you are worth it. You charge what you feel you are worth. I see alot of trainers charging what everyone else charges just to make money. That puts a dent on a trainers rep

[mydamnself]

Ultimatley your certification does not matter. As long as you have a certification where you can become a PT, you ability to market yourself and get results will have more influence on how much you charge.

Agreed. I have no college degree, no CSCS, but I do well for myself for the exact reasons he stated. Marketing is a huge one. I know great trainers who just don't know how to market themselves and advertise, so they never go ind.

[jules_d1]

Agreed. I have no college degree, no CSCS, but I do well for myself for the exact reasons he stated. Marketing is a huge one. I know great trainers who just don't know how to market themselves and advertise, so they never go ind.

Yea you dont NEED a load of qualifications but i;m glad i;ve done what i have (degree in exercise science and rehab) as i know i can attract and train other clients this way. I didnt plan on PT'ing when i undertook the course (wanted to do elite athlete training, still on the cards though) but I know it really does set me apart from the cookie cutter trainers at the gym who have no idea how to train people with certain conditions.


But as others and myself have said above. This means nothing unless you can sell yourself.

[kserajuddin]

Yea you dont NEED a load of qualifications but i;m glad i;ve done what i have (degree in exercise science and rehab) as i know i can attract and train other clients this way. I didnt plan on PT'ing when i undertook the course (wanted to do elite athlete training, still on the cards though) but I know it really does set me apart from the cookie cutter trainers at the gym who have no idea how to train people with certain conditions.


But as others and myself have said above. This means nothing unless you can sell yourself.

Yeah exactly - you got to play up your strengths - you have some amazing credentials - I would promote the hell out of this angle for yourself -
You've always got to market around your strengths - mydamnself plays up his military background and training techniques, I talk more about service and techniques, but you should use your credentials to your advantage - look at the marketing of guys like Eric Cressey or Brian Schiff for examples - make people feel stupid for ever choosing a less qualified trainer-

[mydamnself]

You have to think outside the box too. Teach people something about themselves that they had no idea about. Something I'll do is roll out the IT band and explain the whole knee pain connection. This is a real client grabber. Have them stand up, put a finger on their IT band, bend the knees 20%, feel it pop out, and write you a big check.

[NDame616]

People don't care about certs, credentials, etc. They care about results. I'm NASM certified, one of the best certs in the field...and when people ask what my cert is I tell them and I tell them it's one of the top in the field. I, theoretically, could make up any cert and talk about how great it is...they wouldn't know.

People care about results. I don't get clients because I'm NASM. I get clients because I'm good.

As far as what I chrage, it's $1000 for a 20 pack. I'm at a gym now, but I will soon be working independantly at the gym. My current clients are gonna stay at the same rate. If it's less than a 10-pack, I'm gonna charge $85 a session. Doing anything less than 5 weeks is too short viewed from the clients perspective.

Eventually, my new clients are gonna be 1400 for a 20 pack, 800 for a ten pack, and 425 for a 5 pack. If you just want one session it'll be $100.

[carl.c]

NDame616: You are right peopel don't care about things they don't know and many personal trainers are far from qualified even with a cert but... IF you spend enough time in this game expecialy as an independent you will get sued by one of your clients.
When you are in court the judge will truly care aboout your qualifications.
A good nationaly reconised cert and a degree from a college will go a long way in convincing the judge and jury as to yoru skill level.
If you stay with in the guide lines of your cert you gain a level of protetion.

[NDame616]

NDame616: You are right peopel don't care about things they don't know and many personal trainers are far from qualified even with a cert but... IF you spend enough time in this game expecialy as an independent you will get sued by one of your clients.
When you are in court the judge will truly care aboout your qualifications.
A good nationaly reconised cert and a degree from a college will go a long way in convincing the judge and jury as to yoru skill level.
If you stay with in the guide lines of your cert you gain a level of protetion.

I'm not quite sure that trainers are going to get sued eventually. I know many people who've been diong this for over 20 years, and none has ever gotten sued. Everyone signs a waiver, and unless you do something insane with a client (eye closed one legged overhead squat on a BOSU ball) I think a liability waiver will be ok.

Plus, I'm NASM certified, CPR certified, and insured. Good luck suing me

[Mantra]

Thats where i work in newport beach, its 110$ a hour to train with me there, then 140$ a month for the membership, so i tell my clients if they train with my at my private gym, "at home" they dont have to pay the 140.00 dollars a month and i charge 90$ a hour, its really all what u think your worth, i have a degree, and multiple certs, but honestly its all about personality u can have as many certs as u want and if u dont have the look or personality to keep the clients you wont make it as a trainer. IF there is a equinox close to your house, send in your resume, take the classes they offer there, and move yourself up to a tier 3 trainer, u can make 100k+ a year working 40hours a week as a tier 3 trainer, then take 2 people train them privately charge a flat rate a month for those two clients like 3x a week $900.00 thats extra cash in your pocket. Anyways thats what i am currently doing

[ThaiFighter_83]

All you guys who are trying to give the impression that education and certification don't matter, and that it's all just about charm.....Don't waste my time. I could choose to just sit around and not better my education and hope that the big bucks will just fall out of the sky. But I'm not going to do that. When I get my CSCS cert, the "confidence" and "charm" will come naturally, because I will KNOW that I'm the best, most qualified trainer that the client can hire, and I'll have the education to back it up.

[Mantra]

Education does matter to a certain extent, but your not going to become a good trainer without actually having years of hands on experience in the field. Going to a school like NPTI for 6 months where you are attending classes with other trainers and being around fitness professionals to ask questions and also having hands on experience will make you a better trainer obviously then the trainer that has done a weekend course. Obviously you will develop more confidence about yourself once you get better certs, but when i take a look around at other trainers, the ones who actually keep the clients are the ones who really actually care for that person on a different level, also the people who are happy to be alive they are the ones who attract more clients then the trainer who has tons of certs and who hasn't had much hands on experience. Anyways being a personal trainer is more then just working out your clients.. a good trainer is also a life coach, mentor, role model, that they client can see you as more then just someone who works them out. Anyways thats why also a lot of trainers are starting to actually take life coaching classes to better themselves in the field of personal training.

[Spiceygamble]

Another words, study, get certified, get on with a gym & get some hands on experience... then get a few customers & find your niche... but never stop studying!
You'll do fine as long as you remember who this is really about<the client>.

[NDame616]

I'm gonna preface this, once again, with the fact I AM NASM certified, CPR certified, take many CEUs, specialized, etc. I didn't do this the "fast track"

Saying you need a top certification to do well is like saying you need to graduate Ivy League to make good money. Like your bachelors degree, your certification is going to give you the tools and knowledge to do well. The "better" the cert, the more tools you will have to do well. Is NASM better than ACE? Probably. Is ACSM better than NASM? Probably. However, what you do with the tools will determine how well off, financially and with client's success, you will do.

Who is better, a PT with a basic cert, not recognized by most gyms, but he graduated with a BS in Kineseology (sp), movement science, and reads an hour a day on fat loss, hypertrophy, studies from the best trainers, etc. This trainer makes 6 figures and has helped hundreds of people lose weight.

Or the ACSM PT who is making $12 an hour at Golds Gym, training 5 hours a week and can't afford spghetti'os. This is completely hypothetical.

The better the cert, the more knowledge you will get on the trade. I learned a lot more after my cert than I did during it. However, trying to base your pay scale simply on your cert won't work. Not enough people understand the differences, so they won't pay more for ACSM, NASM, or NRFHRUNSD.

Clients want to stay safe, healthy and get results. If you do those 3 things, add in any type of personality and knowledge on sales and marketing, and you will do well.

[ThaiFighter_83]

I'm gonna preface this, once again, with the fact I AM NASM certified, CPR certified, take many CEUs, specialized, etc. I didn't do this the "fast track"

Saying you need a top certification to do well is like saying you need to graduate Ivy League to make good money. Like your bachelors degree, your certification is going to give you the tools and knowledge to do well. The "better" the cert, the more tools you will have to do well. Is NASM better than ACE? Probably. Is ACSM better than NASM? Probably. However, what you do with the tools will determine how well off, financially and with client's success, you will do.

Who is better, a PT with a basic cert, not recognized by most gyms, but he graduated with a BS in Kineseology (sp), movement science, and reads an hour a day on fat loss, hypertrophy, studies from the best trainers, etc. This trainer makes 6 figures and has helped hundreds of people lose weight.

Or the ACSM PT who is making $12 an hour at Golds Gym, training 5 hours a week and can't afford spghetti'os. This is completely hypothetical.

The better the cert, the more knowledge you will get on the trade. I learned a lot more after my cert than I did during it. However, trying to base your pay scale simply on your cert won't work. Not enough people understand the differences, so they won't pay more for ACSM, NASM, or NRFHRUNSD.

Clients want to stay safe, healthy and get results. If you do those 3 things, add in any type of personality and knowledge on sales and marketing, and you will do well.

Right now, I am the underpaid trainer with the non-nationally recognized cert who works for 16-20 dollars per hour at the local Gold's and LA Fitness, and can barely afford his spaghettio's.

However, I do have a BS in Kinesiology. The CSCS is exactly the thing I need to compliment that BS, and not be hindered by the fact that my currrent cert was some mickey-mouse thing I got in a weekend at some local community college. I want the very best certification, so I have more confidence when I go to the higher end gyms, looking for a job...or when I'm talking to people who I may train privately. The CSCS is exactly what I need.

I've been studying 5-8 hours a day for this thing ever since I got the study materials last week. At this rate, I hope to take the test VERY soon...like in the next month or two. And then, I can finally afford my spaghettio's. ;-)

[nickmanzoni]

Right now, I am the underpaid trainer with the non-nationally recognized cert who works for 16-20 dollars per hour at the local Gold's and LA Fitness, and can barely afford his spaghettio's.

However, I do have a BS in Kinesiology. The CSCS is exactly the thing I need to compliment that BS, and not be hindered by the fact that my currrent cert was some mickey-mouse thing I got in a weekend at some local community college. I want the very best certification, so I have more confidence when I go to the higher end gyms, looking for a job...or when I'm talking to people who I may train privately. The CSCS is exactly what I need.

I've been studying 5-8 hours a day for this thing ever since I got the study materials last week. At this rate, I hope to take the test VERY soon...like in the next month or two. And then, I can finally afford my spaghettio's. ;-)

This reminds me of the famous story "The emperor's new clothes".


He was so confident in his new duds, even though he was nude. It took a couple snide comments to turn confidence to cowardice.

Confidence comes from within, not from a piece of paper.

If I had a degree in kinesiology and not nursing, I would be able to say "I have a degree in kinesiology".... that's all, I'm no better or worse with confidence.

[ThaiFighter_83]

This reminds me of the famous story "The emperor's new clothes".


He was so confident in his new duds, even though he was nude. It took a couple snide comments to turn confidence to cowardice.

Confidence comes from within, not from a piece of paper.

If I had a degree in kinesiology and not nursing, I would be able to say "I have a degree in kinesiology".... that's all, I'm no better or worse with confidence.

That's bull crap. I know that I'm learning a TON from studying for this cert. I'm learning things that I had no idea about before, and I'll be able to give my clients better workouts and more knowledge from it. Again, this way of thinking you are displaying here is counter-productive and a waste of time.

Besides, right now, I'm not confident without this piece of paper (and the stuff I'm learning from it). With it, I will have confidence. The difference between my way of thinking and the way you are describing is...My confidence develops naturally from the hard work I'm doing. You are trying to fake confidence by pretending you already have the education, when maybe you don't.

I get that feeling from a lot of people in the fitness industry. They think "confidence" is the most important thing, emphasizing to JUST develop that...or rather, the APPEARANCE of confidence. This is what I call fake confidence...when you pretend to know something, but you don't.

I KNOW that I don't know all the details I need to know about how to be the best trainer I can be. But I also know that I will know all of them (or a great deal more) once I master all the knowledge that I'm getting from the CSCS study materials. I've learned a TON already, in just the 5 days I've been studying. And that is TRUE confidence.

Oh, and one other point...Confidence does NOT come from within ALONE. It comes from EXPERIENCE, and THEN DEVELOPS "from within."

[carl.c]

ndame616: I liek the NASM cert probably would have taken it instead of the ACSM but my professor cut me a smoking deal on the test if I helped him run it.
The reason you don't hear much about law suits is larger gyms for the most part just pay off.

[carl.c]

Thaifighter 83: This is the major problem in are chosen field. The
The profession of personal training has only been in the public eye since the 80’s. Yes to all others there have been personal trainers since the dawn of time but they mostly where a shadow group.
As a group we have done a poor job of setting standards and creating a uniformed set of rules for certifications. The result is anyone can say they are a personal trainer and get a cert with out upper education.
I feel that there should be a single national cert that requires a bs in kinesiology. From the national cert there would be a large subset of certs form private groups. The national cert would give the industry some quality control.
I feel your frustration when people run down certifications and education. I spent 4 years getting my B.s in kinesiology could have done it in two but I took the initiative to in role in many additional courses in athletic training, anatomy, and kinisotherapy to enhance my knowledge base. I read at lest 6 hours a week of material on the subject of fitness and love to debate the topic of fitness programs, I find that there are many good trainers out there that have learned their trade through hands on experience but I find thoughts same people fall flat on there face when the topic becomes injury recovery, special populations, or athletic programs.
Thank you for allowing me to rant a little and you are to be congratulated for pursuing a good certification it is something to be proud of and brag about.

[sweetestgrl]

Hey there.
CSCS is some hard stuff and when you get certified, you should definitely be proud of it. I'm pretty much in the same shoes as you are..I'm in the Northridge area, pretty close to you and right now im studying to become a personal trainer through NASM. It's pretty tough.. I have my bachelor's in Nutrition and Dietetics, but I really think having the education and all the certifications can make you an alete trainer and therefore you can charge your clients more. I definitely think 50 bux an hour is on the low side. Try 70 an hour because I know at my gym that's how much they're charging. Take care

[wint]

Not being certified, I can only comment as a member of the public . . . say someone looking to hire a CPT.

The internet teaches people what to look for when choosing a personal trainer.

Many articles out there DO address the importance of certifications from accrediting institutions. I believe that NASC and ACE are the only two currently accredited by a 3rd party. Cooper Institute and NASM are undergoing evaluation to be accredited.

UPDATE: COOPER IS NOW 3D PARTY ACCREDITED.

A good bull****ter and/or con artist can always make anything sound good. (I seem to meet guys like that every time I buy a new car.) But there's really nothing like talking to someone who KNOWS what he's talking about.

I think a smart client can tell the difference. The letters after your name may not matter but what comes out of your yap . . . which is a function of those letters . . . does.

Then, there is the issue of INTEGRITY. Why would you take someone's money or put them through a training regimen if you KNOW in your heart of hearts that you don't have the skill to do it?

Last point . . . professional people looking for a trainer don't want to deal with a lunk-head.

Some of you need to spend more time with a dictionary than with a barbell. Learn to spell and speak well. If you can't spell your mother-tongue, that would tell me right there that you are unprofessional. Diction is also important. If you can't spell then you probably don't speak very well either and your conversation is full of slang and lazy expressions that act as conversation fillers . . . "umms" "uhhhs" "yeahs" "and like" "like uhh" "and ****" etc, etc.

Don't sound like Valley Girl.

Think of every mispelling, slang or lazy expression as a big snot hanging out your nose. Doesn't make much of an impression on a client.

[Gronnie]

Not being certified, I can only comment as a member of the public . . . say someone looking to hire a CPT.

The internet teaches people what to look for when choosing a personal trainer.

Many articles out there DO address the importance of certifications from accrediting institutions. I believe that NASC and ACE are the only two currently accredited by a 3rd party. Cooper Institute and NASM are undergoing evaluation to be accredited.

UPDATE: COOPER IS NOW 3D PARTY ACCREDITED.

A good bull****ter and/or con artist can always make anything sound good. (I seem to meet guys like that every time I buy a new car.) But there's really nothing like talking to someone who KNOWS what he's talking about.

I think a smart client can tell the difference. The letters after your name may not matter but what comes out of your yap . . . which is a function of those letters . . . does.

Then, there is the issue of INTEGRITY. Why would you take someone's money or put them through a training regimen if you KNOW in your heart of hearts that you don't have the skill to do it?

Last point . . . professional people looking for a trainer don't want to deal with a lunk-head.

Some of you need to spend more time with a dictionary than with a barbell. Learn to spell and speak well. If you can't spell your mother-tongue, that would tell me right there that you are unprofessional. Diction is also important. If you can't spell then you probably don't speak very well either and your conversation is full of slang and lazy expressions that act as conversation fillers . . . "umms" "uhhhs" "yeahs" "and like" "like uhh" "and ****" etc, etc.

Don't sound like Valley Girl.

Think of every mispelling, slang or lazy expression as a big snot hanging out your nose. Doesn't make much of an impression on a client.

+1, I was thinking the same thing whilst perusing this thread.

[MVP]

So many people just waste money on certifications and degrees. I know and see quite a few trainers with certifications and degrees that are horrible, no clients, bounce from gym to gym, complain about pay, or even just drop out and pursue a new career. They're a dime a dozen

[HardGainer82]

Not being certified, I can only comment as a member of the public . . . say someone looking to hire a CPT.

The internet teaches people what to look for when choosing a personal trainer.

Many articles out there DO address the importance of certifications from accrediting institutions. I believe that NASC and ACE are the only two currently accredited by a 3rd party. Cooper Institute and NASM are undergoing evaluation to be accredited.

UPDATE: COOPER IS NOW 3D PARTY ACCREDITED.

A good bull****ter and/or con artist can always make anything sound good. (I seem to meet guys like that every time I buy a new car.) But there's really nothing like talking to someone who KNOWS what he's talking about.

I think a smart client can tell the difference. The letters after your name may not matter but what comes out of your yap . . . which is a function of those letters . . . does.

Then, there is the issue of INTEGRITY. Why would you take someone's money or put them through a training regimen if you KNOW in your heart of hearts that you don't have the skill to do it?

Last point . . . professional people looking for a trainer don't want to deal with a lunk-head.

Some of you need to spend more time with a dictionary than with a barbell. Learn to spell and speak well. If you can't spell your mother-tongue, that would tell me right there that you are unprofessional. Diction is also important. If you can't spell then you probably don't speak very well either and your conversation is full of slang and lazy expressions that act as conversation fillers . . . "umms" "uhhhs" "yeahs" "and like" "like uhh" "and ****" etc, etc.

Don't sound like Valley Girl.

Think of every mispelling, slang or lazy expression as a big snot hanging out your nose. Doesn't make much of an impression on a client.

Well I'm hoping that people don't speak and/or write professionally like they would on a board like this, but sometimes I wonder. Text messaging and internet lingo are really starting to ruin people's language skills.

I won't name names, but there's a trainer on this very board who released an information product or two full of misspellings, slang and atrocious grammar. It's bad.