As a trainer of trainers I often get questions from students about how to plan their next steps following completion of their certification training. Often those questions include big gyms vs. small gyms, pay structures, and how to choose where to work.

And as a trainer in the industry for 12 years and counting, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings and to learn about the different pay structures and the pros and cons of each.

I’ve run my own business, worked in small gyms, done online consulting, and worked in big gyms.

A lot of students are immediately drawn to big gyms because they assume that this is where the big money is. But, there are many things to consider, not just the pay.

Here, I have a short list of what you need to know about how you get paid to train in a big gym setting. Use it as a guide while you plan the next step of your fitness career.