If you want to become a gym manager, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for you. If the following description sounds like you, then you might be well-suited for this profession:
Those who become gym and fitness centre managers have a genuine interest in fitness and health, and enjoy working with people from different backgrounds. They typically have excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills and be very organized. Fitness centre managers are individuals that are able to combine an interest and knowledge in fitness, with an aptitude for business and management.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to get started in this profession. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Gym Manager
If you have a university degree or college diploma in management or business administration, you will have an excellent chance of qualifying for work in this field, especially if you have work experience in a gym, or in fitness, at any capacity during your time as a student.
Some gyms and fitness centres may hire managers internally by promoting gym assistants, membership sales associates, or other members of the staff. These facilities may accept industry experience in place of a formal education.
General Job Description
Gym managers, sometimes called "Fitness Centre Managers", oversee the operational and business activities of a facility which contains a fitness area and changing facilities. They are usually responsible for marketing the facility, managing staff and dealing with technical issues.
Typical Job Duties & Responsibilities
• Prepare cash projections for owners or senior management
• Use information related to foot traffic and popularity of hourly classes to improve timetables and cope with fluctuations in demand
• Manage inventory and order supplies and equipment when necessary
• Recruit, hire, train and manage trainers and support personnel
• Oversee the activities of trainers and gym support personnel
• Arrange for maintenance, insurance, repairs and cleaning
• Design and coordinate marketing campaigns for the facility
• Design and promote activities that respond to customer demand
• Ensure that members and patrons are receiving outstanding levels of customer service
Working Conditions Typical to This Profession
Work Hours: Gym managers typically work normal weekday working hours, although it is not uncommon for them to put in time in the evenings and weekends.
Work Setting: Gym managers typically work within the facility they operate, spending time in the gym itself to speak with gym members and staff, as well as spending time in an office within the gym or adjacent to it.
Work Travel: Depending on the employer, gym managers typically only travel for such purposes as overseeing the opening of a new gym, or for attending training seminars.
Gym Manager Salary
The salary level of gym managers can vary based on factors such as their level of experience, their level of education, where they work, and many others.
Gym Manager Salary Alberta: According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working as part of the Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program and Service Directors (which is the closest occupational group for which there is reliable salary information) occupational group earn an average salary of $68,890. Unfortunately, no similar statistics were available from reliable sources for other Canadian provinces or territories at the time of writing (August 8, 2019).
Who Employs Them?
Stand-alone fitness centres, as well as organizations that own and operate fitness facilities hire gym managers, typically on a full-time basis. Employers of gym managers include:
• Colleges and universities
• Professional and amateur sports teams
• Municipal fitness facilities
• Privately owned health clubs and fitness centres
• Hotels and resorts
• Private businesses with in-house fitness facilities
Gym Manager Jobs - Current Postings
Our job board below has "gym manager" postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, when available:
Similar Careers in Our Database
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to "gym manager", as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
• Recreation and Leisure Supervisor
References
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a gym manager.
Occupations in Alberta: “Retail Store Manager.” (March 31, 2019). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Occupations in Alberta: “Personal Trainer.” (March 19, 2016). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Job Profile: “Fitness Centre Manager.” AGCAS editors (November, 2019) Prospects website. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Fitness Blog: “Becoming a Gym Manager.” (July 29, 2019) American Sport and Fitness Association website. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming a Gym Manager
Scholarships in our database that are relevant for becoming a gym manager are all of those that can be found on the following pages:
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Relevant Fields of Study
Studying one of the university majors listed below can serve as an excellent educational foundation for a career in this field:
