Is Personal Training a viable job option here? (Willow Grove, Trainer: college, income)

[Jane0218]

Hi everyone,
My husband and I just moved to PA (Elkins Park).
My husband wants to become certified as a Personal Trainer here in PA. I want him to live out that dream, if at all possible.

We're having a hard time finding out if there's a market in this area for a physically fit, mid 40's (looks 37) Personal Trainer, and what the average income would be. Would anyone know how to find this out? He's been going to the gyms around here to check things out, but the Personal Trainers are younger than him, so their perspective and outlook is different. I would love for him to be able to live out this dream, but I don't want him to study and take tests, only be told he's too old when he goes to look for jobs.

We believe there's a market for someone like him helping baby-boomers like ourselves stay in shape, we just don't know if there's a market here. He'd love to train people who want to get/stay in shape, people who may possibly feel a bit uncomfortable (intimidated) training with a younger person. (He's not into rehabilitative training, because that would take much more studying, possible a college degree.)

Census data I've checked gives us numbers, but you can't always go by that. We'd like to talk to people our age who are doing this or have done it.

Any idea/suggestions/ links to websites or mentors / local job forums would be so appreciated! Private messages would be great, too, if links aren't allowed to be posted here.

[FindingZen]

My information may be slightly dated... but I used to be a member of the 12th Street Gym (between Walnut and Locust in Center City). When I left a couple years ago, there were at least a few personal trainers there above 40. I believe their policy is for trainers to pay "rent" to the gym before charging their clients whatever the market will bear. Perhaps he could contact them if he hasn't already.

[Jane0218]

Originally Posted by Tone509

My information may be slightly dated... but I used to be a member of the 12th Street Gym (between Walnut and Locust in Center City). When I left a couple years ago, there were at least a few personal trainers there above 40. I believe their policy is for trainers to pay "rent" to the gym before charging their clients whatever the market will bear. Perhaps he could contact them if he hasn't already.

Thank you very much!

[maf763]

There appear to be a couple of 40+ trainers at the Bally's in Willow Grove. I believe there will be a growing market for people to provide fitness and nutrition counseling to boomers and empty nesters with disposable income. I don't know if such training exists, but if somebody could specialize in working with older clients they could probably do very well at some of the many 55+ communities. Somebody will fill that niche sooner or later.