Job Opportunities In The Fitness Industry

Gone are the days when fitness was a luxury of the rich. Today, there is an increasing awareness about the same and more and more people are looking forward to a healthier lifestyle. In an effort to achieve that, they are investing their time and effort towards their fitness goals. In such a scenario, we observe a rise in the number of fitness options that are available to an individual.

With an increase in the number of fitness options, there is a subsequent increase in the number of career opportunities in this field. Till a generation ago, the only career option available in this field was that of a fitness trainer. This article talks about that and six other career options that are available to someone who wants to make their passion for fitness a worthy career. Read on to know more about the same.

1. Fitness Trainer

Just like the trainers in any other field, in order to be a fitness trainer, you need to have a good knowledge of the human body and the various fitness techniques associated with it. This is a high paying field of work and the average salary is about Rs 50,000 per month.

As a fitness trainer, you may either choose to associate yourself with a particular gym or may choose to freelance with a number of gyms. Many people who are into fitness employ their own fitness trainers and professionals may also choose to work with individual clients in that way.

2. CEO Of A Fitness Franchise

Until a couple of decades ago, fitness was associated only with local gyms. However, with a growing number of fitness chains (Equinox, Gold's Gym, Planet Fitness being the most popular names) coming up, a noteworthy profession would be that of setting up your own fitness chain.

A genuine interest in fitness and good business sense are the prerequisites of a successful career here. Depending on a lot of factors like the location of the chain, the initial investment and the target audience, the amount of money that you make will vary. You can make anything between Rs 5000 a month to Rs 50,000 and beyond.

3. Physical Therapists

Anyone who is into sports and fitness will be well aware of the fact that injuries are an inevitable consequence. To help them tackle the same, there are teams of physical therapists. Physical therapists help an individual get over injuries by providing them with appropriate massage and suggesting exercises that will facilitate a speedy recovery.

For this, a bachelor's degree or diploma in the field of physical therapy is required. Most gyms and sports institutions hire their own physical therapists. Elite athletes and sportspersons have their own physical therapists.

Depending on the amount of experience they have and how good they are at their work, physical therapists can make any amount of money. The starting salary here is Rs 15,000 per month.

4. Fitness Dietician

Any person working out will be aware of the role of a diet in their fitness regime. Now, the other side of the story here is the fact that there is no one-stop solution for a person's fitness needs. So, there is a need to customise an individual's diet based on a number of factors (like the person's sex, body weight, type of fitness regime, whether he or she is a vegetarian or not and a number of other factors).

This is done by fitness dieticians. For this one has to have a bachelor's degree in nutritional science. The starting salary for a fresher in this area is Rs 15,000 and with experience, the value rises.

5. Fitness Writer

These days, there are a number of fitness magazines at the local, national and international level that talk about health and fitness-related issues. The concept of fitness blogs is also gaining popularity. All of this calls for a number of writers and editors in this regard. To be able to succeed in this field, one needs to be very good with creative writing and must have a keen interest in health and fitness.

The money you make here depends on the magazine or blog you are working with and the designation that you hold there. The average starting salary here is about Rs 25,000 per month. Although there are no definite qualifications required in this profession, a bachelor's degree in journalism definitely helps you get the required head start for a successful career in this field.

6. Fitness Tech Engineer

These days you will see the emergence of a number of fitness gadgets. From Fitbit to mechanised treadmills, newer and improvised products are coming up in the market every alternate day. All of this is possible due to the efforts put in by fitness engineers.

Sports gears manufacturing companies like Adidas and Nike hire such people in large numbers. Electronic firms like LG and Panasonic also employ these people.

The educational qualification for this profession is a master's degree in software engineering, electronics and biomechanics. The starting salary for a fresher here is about Rs 5 to 6 lakhs and may vary from company to company.

7. Fitness Apparel Designer

These days, people are concerned not just about how they work out but also about how they look while doing the same. That is why they are ready to shell out a good amount of money on fitness apparels. As a result, a number of fitness apparels are available in the market today and there is intense competition amongst the various brands.

In an effort to stand out, the brands hire fitness apparel designers who are responsible for coming up with clothes that not just look good on you, but are also comfortable for being worn to the gym. For this, a bachelor or master's degree in fine arts with a specialisation in apparel design is a must. The starting salary for freshers in this field stands at Rs 8,000.