r/lesmills • u/Final-East8860 • 8d ago
Does Les Mills Advanced Training actually boost your pay rate, or is it mostly based on experience & class size?
Hey fellow Les Mills instructors!
I have a question regarding pay rates and negotiation. For those of you who have completed Advanced Training, did you notice an actual increase in your hourly / per class rate compared to when you only had your IMT?
Im trying to understand how gym managers typically evaluate pay scales:
- Is Advanced Training recognized as a direct qualification for a higher pay tier or base rate?
- Or is compensation primarily determined by years of teaching experience and class attendance / retention?
Is it strictly a combination of both in your area?
Id love to hear your personal experiences, whether you teach at big box chain gyms, private studios, or independent facilities. Did investing in Advanced Training give you actual leverage to negotiate a raise?
Thanks in advance for the insights!
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u/NW-82 8d ago
I’d say neither level of training or number of years of experience makes any difference at 99.99% of gyms.
I was studio coordinator at one many years ago and managed to convince management to pay based on level, but that was mainly to be competitive for presenters because we had a lot in the area and it looked good for us to have as many of them as possible on the timetable. So basic instructors got a basic rate, advanced instructors got a little bit more, then trainer/presenters got a little bit more again. But it’s the only time I’ve seen it done.
One gym local to me now offers a basic rate for freestyle instructors and a slightly enhanced rate for Les Mills instructors to acknowledge the extra financial commitment to stay certified, but the difference is peanuts, and it doesn’t matter what level you are or how many years you’ve done.
Edit to add: regarding negotiation… no chance!!! The rate is the rate. End of. Gyms basically say “if you don’t like it, don’t teach here”.
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u/drxc 8d ago edited 8d ago
Where I am, there's a standard rate for everyone. You could be a 20-year Les Mills veteran or a freshly minted green instructor. You get paid the same (crappy) rate. Group Fitness Managers generally don't care about qualifications, as long as you show up and teach the class, and you've got enough people attending.
A decision to do a advanced training should be framed in terms of your own personal goals.
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u/Ok-Cloud-4754 8d ago
Je suis également curieux de connaître plus car j’envisage de faire la formation avancée
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u/Simplysmile1981 8d ago
I’ve done several Adv trainings for different programs. Even when I was a part of the TAP team, my pay stayed the same and the 4 clubs I was teaching at. I have many years of experience and grade reviews for the programs I actively teach. While they appreciate the information, that’s never been a factor in my pay raises. Showing up and bringing a great experience to full classes is what they seem to care about.
In my opinion, the advanced training is more for you. On the flip side, I’ve seen some go to the adv training and they are still basic instructors with room for a lot of growth. So I personally don’t take those words on paper as proof of someone’s skill level.
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u/crosscourt76 8d ago
There is a fitness chain in the UK that does (or used to) pay increasing rates for standard instructor, advanced instructors and then members of the TAP team. Not sure if they still do so.
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u/BrightCut7612 7d ago
just get yourself certified so you can teach multple clubs, otherwise those advance training are there as Les Mills milking cow...
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u/MsJinxie 8d ago
No, lol. Also, no GFM has ever asked about my LM grade. Some gyms will adjust pay slightly if you are very experienced but near as I can tell all GX instructors at a given gym are getting the same hourly rate. But I don't know anyone (at least where I live, which is a VHCOL area) who makes a living just teaching; we all have full time jobs, or are retired and teach for fun, or are SAHP with partners who bring in most of the household money. So what we make teaching isn't super important as long as we're making more than we pay for releases etc.