Search Weight Loss Topics:

Home » Fitness » Best Jobs 2012: Recreation and Fitness Worker

The Rundown:

The lifeguard at the beach, the kickboxing instructor at the gym, Deputy Director Leslie Knope on NBC's Parks and Recreation—these three people work in occupations that might seem varied, but share commonalities. Primarily, they're the people who work hard to help us while we're at play. And to do their job well, they must learn to interact with a kaleidoscope of people (particularly Knope) and master thinking quickly on their feet (literally, in the case of the kickboxer). The scope of professions that could be classified as recreation and fitness include camp counselors who supervise children's and teenagers' participation in a spectrum of outdoor activities, leaders of before- and after-school care programs in public schools, and aerobics instructors in a community gymnasium. These professions also share another characteristic: They could make a nice fit for someone requiring a flexible schedule. Many people employed in these positions only work seasonally or part-time.

[See The Best Jobs of 2012.]

The Outlook:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of recreation and fitness workers should grow by 21.1 percent in the next several years, adding more than 120,000 new positions. Specifically, there should be approximately 60,400 new fitness trainers and aerobics instructors by the year 2020, and 64,300 new recreation workers.

Money:

In 2010, fitness trainers and aerobics instructors made an average salary of $31,090. Camp directors and directors of recreation programs made a slightly lower median salary of $22,260. The best-compensated in the field earned approximately $63,400, and the lowest-paid 10 percent earned approximately $17,070. The best-paying metropolitan areas for these workers include Corvallis, Ore., New York City, and Framingham, Mass.

[See a list of The Best Social Services Jobs.]

Recreation and Fitness Worker Salary Range:

75th Percentile Wage: $46,130

Median Wage: $31,090

25th Percentile Wage: $19,870

Education and Preparation:

"A common misconception about [fitness instructors] is that you need experience to get certified," says Charles Krautblatt, chief executive officer of the International Fitness Association. "It's the other way around. You get certified, and then you train for practical experience." Training varies by the specific type of fitness in which you choose to specialize. For example, a Pilates instructor would need to complete approximately 200 hours in method training workshops. A personal trainer would most likely shadow someone more experienced until they were qualified to train clients one-on-one. Prerequisites for recreation workers like camp counselors, camp directors, and the directors of recreation programs also vary. Those on the managerial level need to have at least an associate's degree in a field related to parks and recreation, and they might also need to sit for a certification exam with the National Recreation and Park Association.

[In Pictures: The 10 Best Jobs.]

On Landing a Recreation and Fitness Worker Job:

Instructors usually audition to work in a fitness facility by leading a segment of a class. Krautblatt says hiring managers are looking for two things during that try-out. "Of course they're looking for technique—the mechanics of staying on the beat and knowing the top of the phrase," he says. "But they're also looking for personality. You can't act like a stone—you're supposed to be having a good time. You've got to be a little bit of a performer."

What is a Recreation and Fitness Worker Job Like?

The director of a recreation and parks program might work 40 hours from Monday through Friday, while a yoga instructor could teach classes every other day. A camp counselor might only moonlight in that position a few weeks each the summer; the rest of the year, he or she might pay the bills working as an insurance agent . The spectrum of work environments is just as diverse; some workers stay active while on campgrounds and around pools, fitness instructors keep their heart racing during class-time in a gymnasium, and directors manage the logistics of how recreation facilities run while mostly sitting behind a desk.

Twitter: @USNewsCareers

Excerpt from:
Best Jobs 2012: Recreation and Fitness Worker

Your Full Name
Your Email
Your Phone Number
Select your age (30+ only)	30313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120
Select Your US State	Select Your StateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington,DCWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Program Choice	Select Your ProgramInjectable HGHInjectable TestoteroneInjectable SermorelinInjectable Weight LossInjectable HCG DietInjectable Vitamins
Confirm over 30 years old	Yes
Confirm that you resident in USA	Yes
This is a Serious Inquiry	Yes
Message:

Home » Fitness » Best Jobs 2012: Recreation and Fitness Worker