They say if you do something that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. However, it’s certainly all the more motivating to know that you’ll be well compensated financially along the way. If you’re considering offering your services as a personal trainer here in Ireland, then you’ll want to have a good understanding of the salary landscape for the various roles you can pursue as a personal trainer. This will help you arrive at a realistic expectation as to what you can expect to earn once you get set up.
The pay actually changes quite a bit depending on your experience, where you work, and whether you choose to work for a gym or go independently. The job market offers many paths - from starting positions to specialist roles where you can earn premium rates. So, if you aren’t at your target figure from the beginning, it’s definitely something you can work towards by gaining more experience or growing your client base over time. Knowing how the salary of a personal trainer here in Ireland will also help you to better manage your finances and plan for the future. Let’s dive into some of the primary training roles here in Ireland and how much money they take in on a yearly basis.
Average Personal Trainer Salaries Across Ireland
Given that there’s a variety of factors that will influence the amount of money you’re walking away from the job with each year, it will be helpful to look at the average salary that a personal trainer makes here on the island of Ireland.
| City/Region | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin, County Dublin | €30,000 - €35,000 | €14.42 - €16.83 |
| Killarney, County Kerry | €33,886 | €16.29 |
| Galway, County Galway | €30,626 | €14.72 |
| Cork, County Cork | €26,332 | €12.66 |
| Tralee, County Kerry | €23,285 | €11.19 |
| Navan, County Meath | €19,517 | €9.38 |
As you can see where you decide to set up shop and begin offering your services can have a significant influence on your earning potential. This is largely due to the respective cost of living in each of these areas. You can see how a PT in Navan would earn less than one in Dublin City, but you also have to consider that their expenses would also be considerably lower too!
These salaries are a great reflection of what you can expect to earn starting out as a general PT. Entry-level positions earn around €29,519, and experienced professionals earn up to €48,886 annually. The overall average salary for a personal trainer in Ireland is approximately €36,195 per year or €17.40 per hour.
You will likely find great motivation in hearing that those who have eight or more years of experience serving clients enjoy an average salary of €44,162. But how to become a personal trainer? How to become a sports teacher? How to become a coach? There are many sports professions, so which training should you choose?
Gym-based Personal Trainer
If when you close your eyes and imagine yourself training a client in the future, it’s on the gym floor, then you’re going to be more concerned about the role of an in-house trainer. This is one of the most commonly opted-for options that will allow you to work as a trainer. Many fitness enthusiasts are drawn to this avenue for the security it offers, as it is largely considered to be the most stable career path in the fitness industry.
According to Indeed.ie the average salary for an in-house trainer is €21,885.
Contracted employment in a gym setting comes with a dependable monthly income and a well-laid-out working environment. Your schedule includes either full-time hours (35-40 hours per week) or part-time arrangements that provide the stability many fitness professionals need at the start of their careers.
Then many gyms also have commission structures that make these positions even more appealing.
You can earn above your base salary, which creates chances for financial growth while you retain control over job security.
New trainers will appreciate access to an existing client base instead of building their portfolio from scratch.
There’s also no shortage of places you can work as an in-house trainer.
You could work in prestigious health clubs, modern leisure centres, or exotic locations like cruise ships and luxury resorts. Corporate organizations hire in-house personal trainers, and healthcare charities and armed forces offer positions you might not expect.
This avenue also provides a great way for newcomers to get industry experience while earning a healthy trainer's wage. You can develop skills, build your reputation, and learn the business side of personal training with the security of regular employment. This foundation becomes crucial whether you stay in gym employment long-term or move to self-employment later. Now discover the ins and outs of becoming a personal trainer in Ireland...
Self-employed Personal Trainer
If you see yourself being your own boss and working on your own time, then the self-employed option will likely capture your interest a little more.
According to Indeed.ie the average salary for self-employed Personal Trainer is €35,000.
The first thing you’ll ponder is likely going to be where you’re going to be training your clients if you’re going to be working independently. You can, of course, use public parks or the beach for creative cardio sessions, but if your client is in need of more equipment, you can always rent a gym space. You'll need to pay monthly rent between €250 and €400 to use gym facilities, with the exact amount based on your chosen venue.
If this is the path you plan on pursuing, you’ll be glad to hear that self-employed trainers can earn way more than their hired counterparts since they control their rates and schedule.
You can boost your earnings by working at different gyms to build a bigger client base and make more money.
However, you’ll also want to keep in mind that self-employed trainers in Ireland must stay on top of their taxes.
So, you'll need to report all your training income to the Revenue Commissioners, whether it's your main job or a side gig. The good news is you can claim many expenses on your tax return - from utilities and insurance to phone bills and gym equipment.
Being your own boss means wearing multiple hats. Beyond training clients, you'll handle marketing, build your brand, keep clients happy, and tackle paperwork. You might also need your own trainer insurance if your gym doesn't provide coverage. Note that it will also be necessary to subtract from your salary personal training insurance, which is essential for your protection in case of the unfortunate injury of one of your students.
Specialist Personal Trainer
Like in many industries, by focusing on niche areas of personal training, you can boost your earning potential quite a bit. You can charge premium rates by developing expertise in specific areas like athlete training, corporate wellness programs, or specialised rehabilitation training.
Keep in mind that getting specialist trainer qualifications is going to require extra certifications and advanced training. But this investment can certainly lead to great financial rewards. These specialised qualifications help you stand out from general personal trainers and let you target specific client segments. To cite an instance, some trainers focus on pre and post-natal fitness, while others work with elderly clients or sports-specific conditioning.
The average salary for a specialist personal trainer is €25,000 - €35,000 per year, with experienced specialists making €35,000 - €50,000 per year.
Your success as a specialist trainer depends on a clear, unique selling proposition (USP). Think about questions like "What are my specialist services?" and "Who is my target audience?" Clear answers help you market your services better to people who need your expertise most.
Your earning potential as a specialist trainer will rely heavily on experience. Clients will pay premium rates once you build your reputation and show consistent results. Your expertise becomes even more valuable when you combine it with strong business sense and marketing skills. The coaching aspect is essential in this business, and it means becoming much more than a sports teacher!
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Another niche that’s quite popular here in Ireland and beyond is becoming a Strength and Conditioning Coach. In this role, you can expect to spend a lot of your time designing and implementing training programs to enhance your clients physical capabilities.
If this is an aspect that you enjoy, then making it into your full-time career is something you’ll want to consider. If you find yourself wondering what qualifications you might need to get started, They typically hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and work in various settings, including professional sports teams and universities. Their responsibilities include creating personalised exercise regimens and teaching proper techniques.
The average base salary for Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Ireland ranges from €40,067 to €43,633 per year, with entry-level positions starting around €29,519 and experienced professionals earning up to €48,886 annually.
This is certainly one of the more lucrative avenues you can pursue as a trainer here in Ireland. Because you are offering your specialised services to those who have a higher perceived value for your service. An athlete is paid a great deal to potentially improve their performance by 5%, whereas your average gym goer mightn‘t be as quick to do so.
Career progression in this role is also promising, with opportunities for advancement and specialisation. The demand for qualified coaches continues to grow as sports organisations recognise the importance of specialised physical training.
Deciding Your Path as a Personal Trainer
For many, there are few things that will get you out of bed on a cold morning, quite like a paycheque. After your reading, you should find yourself with a better understanding of what you can expect to make as a personal trainer, no matter what avenue you end up pursuing. There is definitely an incentive to hone your craft and learn as you work closely with your clients to help them achieve their fitness goals. The more experienced you are, the more you will be able to earn.
A combination of in-person training and online coaching may also help you reach more clients and maintain a work-life balance. Smart trainers also create digital products like workout plans or nutrition guides that generate passive income alongside their regular training sessions. Your professional network is another vital part of moving up in your career as a personal trainer. Strong relationships with fitness professionals, health practitioners, and industry experts bring valuable referrals and chances to collaborate. These connections often lead to premium clients and exciting projects that boost your income by a lot!
Switching to a platform like Superprof means making sure you have direct contact with potential customers and setting aside a part of the need to search for clients, which is an extremely time-consuming part of being a freelancer, especially in the first few weeks or months after you begin. This is the easiest way to find students quickly, and in addition, it's free! All you need to do is create your profile, fill in your information, set your rate, and voila, you're up and running!
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