Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $36,920 -20.1% vs national
Median hourly $17.75
10th percentile $22,990
90th percentile $60,090
Employed locally 180
National median $46,180

Compare Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary & buying power

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Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
in
Hickory, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,990
    25th
    $29,240
    50th (median)
    $36,920
    75th
    $44,560
    90th
    $60,090

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary vs area income 61% Median Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary is 39% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $78,160
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $76,390
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $73,880
    New Haven, CT $66,170
    Connecticut $65,790
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $62,050

    Nearby metros — Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $61,910
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $61,040
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,880
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $51,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,230
    Asheville, NC $49,040

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Amusement and Recreation Attendants $23,200
    Animal Caretakers $27,780
    Childcare Workers $28,020
    Recreation Workers $30,300
    Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists $33,610
    First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services $42,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Hickory, NC is $17.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.89 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salaries?

    The median Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors salary in Hickory, NC is 20.1% below the national median of $46,180. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in Hickory?

    Entry-level Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (10th percentile) earn around $22,990 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,240.