Career: Recreation and Fitness Workers
Richard Simmons and the latest supermodel with a workout video may have little in common, but they both get people off the couch and reaching for the sky. Like them, recreation and fitness workers motivate people of all walks of life.
It’s not all about health, though. Whether they’re training runners for a 10K, teaching senior citizens Tai Chi, or taking campers horseback riding, recreation and fitness workers help people meet a wide range of personal goals -- and have fun while they’re at it.
Recreation and fitness workers plan and lead activities. They work in local playgrounds and recreation areas, parks, community centers, health and fitness clubs, religious centers, camps, theme parks, and tourist attractions.
Did You Know?
- A large number of jobs in this field are part-time or seasonal.
Are You Ready To...?
- Teach by example
- Work with people of all ages and abilities
- Keep records of clients’ exercise sessions
- Spend more time at a desk as you advance in your career
It Helps to Be...
A creative or athletic person who enjoys helping others and likes working as part of a team.
Make High School Count
- Sign up for psychology. You’ll study motivation and learning.
- Learn all you can in your physical education classes and extracurricular sports. Training tips and routines may come in handy in the future.
- Pay attention to the different methods all of your teachers use. Which work best? Which can you see yourself using some day?
- Volunteer as an assistant coach on a middle school or Little League team.
- Work as a counselor or assistant counselor at summer camp.
Did You Know?
- If you become a personal trainer, you'll help individual clients work out in their homes or in health clubs.
Outlook
Every year, more people decide that it's time to get into shape. And they look for professionals to help them do it. In fact, government economists expect jobs in fitness training and aerobics instruction to grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2016.
However, many people want to start careers in sports and fitness, and you may have to begin with part-time jobs. The greater variety of skills you have, the better your chances of making a living in this field.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fitness trainers and aerobics instructors earned an average yearly wage of $34,310 in 2008. Recreation workers earned $24,570. Keep in mind, however, that this figure assumes a full-time work schedule while most instructors work part-time.
