Prevailing Wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
The prevailing wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (SOC 39-9031) is set by DOL and determines the minimum salary a sponsored employee must be paid. Whether your offer is for a Fitness Instructor, Aerobics Instructor, or Group Fitness Instructor role, DOL establishes four experience levels and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level fitness trainers with limited professional experience, typically performing routine instructional tasks under direct supervision. Candidates new to group exercise or personal training roles in a structured gym or studio setting generally fall here.
Level 2 applies to qualified fitness instructors with moderate experience who work with general supervision and handle a standard range of classes or client programs. This is the most common filing level for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors.
Level 3 is for experienced professionals who work independently, design specialized programming, and may mentor junior staff. Fitness specialists leading niche modalities or managing multiple class formats across a facility typically file at this level.
Level 4 reflects fully competent senior trainers who set program direction, exercise significant independent judgment, and may oversee a team. Lead fitness specialists or directors of group exercise at large health networks commonly file here.
Prevailing Wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Watch for part-time wage traps in fitness roles
Many fitness instructor positions are structured as part-time or per-class contracts. For sponsored roles, the annualized equivalent of your offered rate must clear the prevailing wage floor for your level, not just your scheduled hours.
Distinguish personal training from group fitness filings
Some employers file personal training roles under a different SOC, which can carry a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 39-9031 so your offer is benchmarked against the correct Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors wage data.
Target high-wage metros for group fitness sponsorships
The prevailing wage floor for fitness instructors in coastal metros like San Francisco and Boston runs substantially higher than in lower-wage markets such as Hammond or Muncie. The worksite city on your LCA determines which floor applies, so location choice directly shapes offer viability.
Find sponsors using Migrate Mate employer history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors in the past, including sponsorship counts by company. This helps you prioritize fitness chains, hospital wellness programs, and corporate health employers with a proven sponsorship record.
Jobs for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-9031.00 alongside Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Aerobics Instructor Prevailing Wage
Aerobics Instructor Prevailing Wage
Aerobics Instructor positions fall under SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fitness Instructor Prevailing Wage
Fitness Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fitness Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fitness Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fitness Specialist Prevailing Wage
Fitness Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fitness Trainer Prevailing Wage
Fitness Trainer Prevailing Wage
Fitness Trainer positions fall under SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Group Exercise Instructor Prevailing Wage
Group Exercise Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Group Exercise Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Group Fitness Instructor Prevailing Wage
Group Fitness Instructor Prevailing Wage
Group Fitness Instructor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Personal Trainer Prevailing Wage
Personal Trainer Prevailing Wage
Personal Trainer positions fall under SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Private Trainer Prevailing Wage
Private Trainer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Private Trainer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Strength and Conditioning Coach Prevailing Wage
Strength and Conditioning Coach Prevailing Wage
Strength and Conditioning Coach is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Yoga Instructor Prevailing Wage
Yoga Instructor Prevailing Wage
Yoga Instructor positions fall under SOC 39-9031.00 (Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 39-9031, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience and job complexity. Employers must pay at least the level corresponding to the role as described in the Labor Condition Application they submit before sponsoring a worker.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level instructors under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals working with standard oversight. Level 3 applies to experienced specialists operating largely independently. Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead roles with broad program authority. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in your job offer, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same fitness instructor role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so wage floors reflect local labor market conditions in each metropolitan area. The worksite address listed on the LCA determines which metro's data applies, not where the employer is headquartered. Dense urban markets with higher costs of living and stronger demand for fitness professionals, such as San Francisco or Boston, produce substantially higher floors than smaller or lower-cost metros.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage for this occupation?
DOL will not certify an LCA that lists a wage below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other work visa petition. If the discrepancy is discovered after filing, the petition may be denied or revoked. Employers are also subject to back-pay obligations and debarment from future sponsorships if a violation is found.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 39-9031 and metropolitan area. Select the wage level that matches your role's duties and supervision. You can also cross-reference with BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for the relevant metro. To find employers who have historically sponsored fitness instructor roles, Migrate Mate lets you filter by occupation and see each company's past sponsorship counts.
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