Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,920 or more. The middle half of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Chicago earn between $35,770 and $63,080.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $48KMedian
- $63K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,050 | $4,588 | $26.47 |
| Median | $47,680 | $3,973 | $22.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,770 | $2,981 | $17.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,080 | $5,257 | $30.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($53,300) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($52,420). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $47,160.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $55,050 | $47,680 | $31,470 | $94,920 | 16,350 |
| Illinois | $53,300 | $46,800 | $31,210 | $92,780 | 19,830 |
| United States | $52,420 | $47,160 | $28,800 | $83,100 | 322,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $55,050, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $43,829 a year, or $3,652 a month and $1,686 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $44,791 | $3,733 |
| Working in IL | $43,829 | $3,652 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $55,050 buys what about $53,140 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$55,050
- Peoria$46,950
- Bloomington$46,150
- Champaign$45,540
- Rockford$44,260
- Kankakee$43,890
- Springfield$40,360
- Decatur$36,400
All Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
Barnstable, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($74,780).
- Barnstable, MA$74,780
- Bridgeport, CT$74,300
- Boston, MA$72,780
- San Francisco, CA$72,040
- Santa Cruz, CA$71,430
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary by city
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Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors make an hour in Chicago?
$26.47 an hour on average, and $22.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level exercise trainers and group fitness instructors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the exercise trainers and group fitness instructors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $43,829 a year ($3,652 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,050.
Do exercise trainers and group fitness instructors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($52,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-9031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.74, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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