The average personal trainer salary in South Africa is R167,007.00 annually. A personal trainer is compensated fairly with bonuses and commissions. Commissions and bonuses can increase a personal trainer’s income by up to 17%.
A personal trainer’s annual bonus in South Africa is R3,619.00 (Salary Expert). The bonuses range from R425.00 per month to R79,000.00 per year (Payscale).
Personal trainer commissions are high in South Africa, and those who earn commissions can significantly increase their income. Personal trainer commissions in South Africa range from R12,000.00 to R92,000.00 per year.
Bonuses and commissions have a direct impact on a personal trainer’s income, but not the base salary. There are several factors that influence a personal trainer’s salary in South Africa; we discuss these factors in detail below.
Factors that influence the salary of a Personal Trainer
Level of Education
A personal trainer’s salary is affected by their level of education. A personal trainer with a high school education earns an average monthly salary of R15,800.00. A personal trainer’s salary can be increased by 18% to R18,600.00 per month by obtaining a higher certificate or diploma in the field.
Personal trainers with a Bachelor’s degree in the field earn the most money, with an average monthly salary of R27,000.00. The average salary of personal trainers with a bachelor’s degree is 45% higher than the average salary of personal trainers with a diploma.
Obtaining a master’s degree in the field of personal training can also be very rewarding. Personal trainers with a master’s degree earn R35,300.00 per month on average, which is 31% more than personal trainers with a bachelor’s degree.
City of employment
A personal trainer’s salary in South Africa is affected by the city in which they work. According to Indeed.com, the following are the highest-paying cities in South Africa for personal trainers:
| # | City | Monthly Average Salary |
| 1 | Cape Town, Western Cape | R23,370.00 |
| 2 | Rosebank, Gauteng | R12,425.00 |
| 3 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | R10,370.00 |
| 5 | Pretoria, Gauteng | R10,211.00 |
Employer
When it comes to giving a fair salary to a personal trainer, the personal trainer’s employer has the upper hand. Working for a good company can help you get a good salary. Here are some of the best employers in South Africa for Personal Trainers in 2024:
- Virgin Active South Africa with an average hourly salary of R180.00; and
- Planet Fitness with an average salary hourly of R197.00; and
Self-employed personal trainers are the highest earners in South Africa, with an hourly wage of R246.00.
A personal trainer’s salary is primarily determined by the number of years they have worked in the field. Below, we look at the various salaries of personal trainers based on their level of experience.
Salary of a Personal Trainer based on their level of experience
Average Personal Trainer Salary with 0 – 2 years of work experience in 2024
A personal trainer with 0 to 2 years of experience can expect to earn R12,900.00 per month on average. Personal Trainers with 0 years of experience are the lowest paid in this category, earning an average salary of R11,500.00 per month.
Personal trainers with 2 years of experience earn the most money in this category. Personal trainers with two years of experience earn an average monthly salary of R13,200.00.
Average Personal Trainer Salary with 3 – 5 years of work experience in 2024
A personal trainer with 3 to 5 years of experience can expect to earn R17,200.00 per month on average. The salary is 34% higher than the average salary for personal trainers with 0 to 2 years of experience.
Personal trainers with 3 years of experience are the lowest paid in this category, with an average monthly salary of R14,150.00. Personal Trainers with 5 years of experience earn the highest salaries, earning an average of R20,000.00 per month.
Average Personal Trainer Salary with 6 – 10 years of work experience in 2024
A personal trainer with 6 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn R25,400.00 per month on average. The salary represents a 48% increase over the average salary of personal trainers with 3 to 5 years of experience.
Personal Trainers with 10 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R28,448.00. Personal Trainers with 6 years of experience earn the least, with an average monthly salary of R22,680.00.
Average Personal Trainer Salary with 11 – 15 years of work experience in 2024
A personal trainer with 11 to 15 years of experience can expect to earn R31,000.00 per month on average. The salary is a 22% increase over the average salary of personal trainers with 6 to 10 years of experience.
Personal Trainers with high school education and 11 years of work experience earn the least in this category, earning R28,900.00 per month. Personal Trainers with 15 years of experience earn the most in this category, with an average monthly salary of R32,000.00.
Average Personal Trainer Salary with 16 – 20 years of work experience in 2024
A personal trainer with 16 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn R33,800.00 per month on average. The salary is 9% higher than the average salary for personal trainers with 11 to 15 years of experience.
Personal trainers with 20 years or more of experience earn the most in South Africa, earning up to R39,200.00 per month.
Conclusion
Personal trainers must consider several factors as they prepare to enter the job market. Obtaining the necessary knowledge is one thing, but obtaining a postgraduate degree in the field can assist personal trainers in earning a higher salary. Working toward a master’s degree in the field is thus recommended for those who want to earn the highest salary in the field.
