If you’re looking for a strategy to find the top strength and conditioning coach vacancies near you, then you’re in the right place. In this Elite Trainr guide, we’re going to cover the information you need to know before you go on the hunt for a job. Why? Because the market can have ups and downs, and some positions may be misunderstood.
To get you started on the right path, I built this guide to help you avoid some of the industry pitfalls and set yourself up for success in finding the top strength and conditioning coach vacancies that you should target. Let’s cut to the chase and get into it to get you a leg up on the competition.
Understanding the Demand in the Strength and Conditioning Job Market
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay in 2023 for fitness trainers and instructors was $46,480/year or $22.35 per hour. The typical entry-level education required was a high school diploma or equivalent, making it easy to get into the industry. (1)
The BLS also offers information on Athletic Trainers. The average median annual wage for athletic trainers in the US in 2023 was $57,930 and required a master’s degree for most job positions. (2)
Currently, according to Zippia, there are over 10k strength and conditioning coaches active in the US. Of these 10k+ coaches, 16.8% are women, and 83.5% are men. The average age of strength and conditioning coaches is 35 years old. (3)
A quick search online revealed over 95 current openings for strength and conditioning coaches found in Ontario, Canada alone. (4) Meanwhile, a search on LinkedIn for a strength and conditioning coach in the USA provided 224 results. (5)
In comparison, a search on LinkedIn for personal trainers in the USA resulted in 2948 results. (6)
These numbers tell us that strength and conditioning coach jobs are available at a rate of 1:10 compared to personal trainers. This fact makes it clear that jobs for strength and conditioning coaches are much less prevalent than those for their personal trainer counterparts.
The worldwide fitness industry shows projected growth from 2022 to 2029 of 8.89% (CAGR). This projection tells us that the fitness industry will continue to grow at a good reasonable pace over the next five years. (7)
In a nutshell, we can see that the following is likely true:
- Strength and conditioning jobs are likely to grow at a similar rate to the rest of the industry, averaging about 8% growth per year. So, for every 100 jobs, we are likely to see about 8-10 new jobs year after year. So, if we have about 220 jobs currently available on the LinkedIn social network in 2024, then we could reasonably expect to see about 240 jobs available the following year and about 260 the following year.
- Strength and conditioning careers are more challenging to find and require more education than personal trainer jobs.
- Strength and conditioning jobs generally pay more than that of their personal trainer counterparts.
Key Industries Hiring and Posting Strength and Conditioning Coach Vacancies
The number one industry for finding jobs in strength and conditioning is typically education. In other words, colleges, high schools, and universities with sports teams are the most likely places to find decent strength and conditioning coach opportunities.
I recommend looking at job postings at significant universities and colleges in your area. Obviously, it’s too extensive a list to include here, but here are some accessible places to find those education centers that may need to hire you to help their teams:
Canada
USA
Further to your search, you can try being creative with search engines. Try some of the search terms I’ve created below to find those elusive strength and conditioning coach opportunities:
Best Search Terms
- List of businesses and gyms near me
- Strength and conditioning jobs near me
- Strength and conditioning coach jobs
- Strength coach jobs
- Physical therapy clinics near me
The highest-paying strength and conditioning coach jobs are with professional sports teams. However, these are also the most challenging jobs to get due to their high rate of pay, requirements, and competition.
Where can you find more strength and conditioning coach vacancies? Try sports leagues. Typically, you won’t see too many professional sports teams hiring strength and conditioning coaches. Still, where there are professional teams, there are levels of junior up-and-comers that usually require some form of training in your skill set. So, you can try searching for local teams and see if team job boards are presenting opportunities in your area.
Canadian (CANADA) Opportunities and Job Boards to Find Strength and Conditioning Coach Vacancies
American (USA) Opportunities and Job Boards to Find Strength and Conditioning Coach Vacancies
- National Strength and Conditioning Association – NSCA Job Board
- Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association – Member Job Board
Top Regions with High Demand for Strength and Conditioning Coaches
If you’re looking for a strength and conditioning coach job abroad, you can try a few more options:
In your research for a strength and conditioning coach job, you’ve likely noticed a trend. If you haven’t, that’s okay because we’re going to review it now: How location affects job availability. You may have noticed that there are more jobs in bigger cities. It’s true for obvious reasons (more people, more opportunities).
We can generalize that you’re more likely to find work in urban areas than in rural areas, so you’ll want to offer services in a city if you’re considering a move.
If you’re in the United States, you’re in one of the best countries in the world to be a strength and conditioning coach, as the US spends the most money on our kind of role.
You may also want to consider looking into local weightlifting groups, as these sometimes require a strength and conditioning role. You could also go freelance and offer services online to solo athletes or even groups. You can do a lot these days with virtual training to find work, so considering that you can set it up nearly for free and from almost anywhere with internet access, there is a real potential that you could find work in the form of paying clients online.
If you decide to spend some of your time building an online training business, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered by Elite Trainr.
Leveraging Technology to Find and Secure Vacancies
Leveraging technology is crucial to expanding your reach and maximizing your income potential as a strength and conditioning coach. In fact, you’re already using technology to read this guide. We’ve talked about job boards, organizations, and the best search terms I found for using browsers to find a job vacancy in the strength and conditioning field.
But I’ve not told you about something I know pretty well: building your own personal training, fitness, or strength and conditioning training business. To help you master it, my team built Elite Trainr because, after all, we’re trainers too.
Elite Trainr offers a robust platform that enables you to run your own virtual coaching business with ease. Here’s how:
- Build and Customize Digital Workout Plans: With over 3,000 animated GIFs, Elite Trainr allows you to create personalized workout plans tailored to each client’s needs. Thanks to the detailed animations, these plans are easy to follow, ensuring your clients get the most out of their training sessions, even from a distance.
- Streamline Client Management: Manage all your clients in one place, track their progress, and adjust their programs in real-time. Elite Trainr’s comprehensive tracking solutions—covering nutrition, fitness goals, weight, and cardio sessions—give you the insights you need to optimize your clients’ results.
- Enhance Professionalism with White-Label Branding: Stand out in the competitive virtual coaching market by branding your dashboard with your logo. Clients see your brand every time they log in, reinforcing your professional image and building loyalty.
- Offer Seamless Communication: Stay connected with your clients through integrated check-ins, messaging, and a private forum. These features ensure you can provide ongoing support and motivation, which are crucial to client retention in a virtual setting.
- Scale Your Business: Whether you’re managing a few clients or expanding to an entire team of coaches, we designed Elite Trainr to scale with you. The platform supports multiple team management, making it easy to grow your virtual coaching business as demand increases.
Closing the Gap Between Job Market Opportunities and Your Career Goals
Navigating the job market as a strength and conditioning coach requires a proactive approach to career development. By staying informed about market trends in your industry and related industries and continuously enhancing your skills and knowledge, you can be a top candidate in this competitive field. Remember, the most successful professionals don’t just follow the job market—they shape it.
Take charge of your career by leveraging the insights and tools outlined in this guide. Whether you’re aiming to land a coveted position with a sports team or grow your own virtual coaching business using Elite Trainr, the key is to remain adaptable and driven. By mastering the job market, you’re securing a fulfilling and lucrative career in strength and conditioning.
Article Sources
- “Fitness Trainers and Instructors.” 2024. Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 17, 2024. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/fitness-trainers-and-instructors.htm.
- “Athletic Trainers.” 2024. Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 17, 2024. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm.
- “Strength and Conditioning Coach Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number of Strength and Conditioning Coachs in the US.” 2021. Zippia.com. January 29, 2021. https://www.zippia.com/strength-and-conditioning-coach-jobs/demographics/.
- “LinkedIn.” 2024. Linkedin.com. 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/assistant-strength-and-conditioning-coach-jobs.
- “LinkedIn.” 2024. Linkedin.com. 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=4001556004&geoId=103644278&keywords=strength%20and%20conditioning%20coach&origin=JOB_SEARCH_PAGE_SEARCH_BUTTON&originalSubdomain=ca&refresh=true.
- “LinkedIn.” 2024. Linkedin.com. 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=4001759870&geoId=103644278&keywords=personal%20trainer&origin=JOB_SEARCH_PAGE_SEARCH_BUTTON&originalSubdomain=ca&refresh=true.
- “Health & Fitness – Worldwide | Statista Market Forecast.” 2022. Statista. Statista. 2022. https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/app/health-fitness/worldwide#:~:text=Total%20revenue%20in%20the%20Health,US%249.37bn%20by%202029..
