How Much Does a Personal Trainer Cost in Arizona
Overview of Personal Trainer Options and Costs in Arizona
Arizona has a very active fitness scene. It should come as no surprise that if you’re looking for a certified personal trainer in Arizona, you have several options to consider. However, how do you know which option is best for you?
The right personal trainer will help you reach your fitness and health goals and send you on your way to a healthier and happier lifestyle! In this article, we will attempt to break these options down and provide you with the information you need when choosing your fitness professional.
You may be wondering why the headline reads "biased". Well, we are a personal training company, so of course we're going to be a little biased about thinking we're the very best option. But, that doesn't mean we aren't still the very best option! We hope you enjoy the article, and even if you don't choose us, we hope it helps you choose the right personal trainer for you!
Lastly, if you want to learn more about the benefits of hiring a personal trainer, check out this article.
List of Personal Training Options in Arizona:
- In-Home Personal Training: Mobile Trainers
- Large Chain Gym: Esporta Fitness
- Luxury Gym: Life Time Fitness
- Low-Cost Gym: EOS Fitness
A Note About Cost – The Tradeoffs to Consider
The Cost for a personal training session in Arizona varies from $50 to $120. However, it is important to note that there are quantifiable reasons for price differences, and personal training is (like most other things in life) a get-what-you-pay-for service. Many mistakenly think that there is no difference between one personal trainer or the next but these things will contribute to the price of your personal training sessions:
- Trainer Certification –This is the biggest one. The fact is, it isn’t difficult to become a personal trainer. There are many options for additional certifications, and some are pretty downright easy to obtain. And since most gyms require trainers to do their own sales, those gyms benefit by giving just about anyone a “shot on the floor” to see if they can bring in some clients. You can usually find training rates with such a trainer for roughly $50/hr. However, if you want a trainer that is college educated, has high-level certifications, and/or years of experience perfecting their craft, you should expect to pay upwards of $100/hr (this is the industry standard for experienced trainers).
- Equipment/Facility Quality – High quality fitness machines, wide selection of workouts, and a premium facility will all increase the hourly training rate charged at a local gym.
- Additional Services – Some companies offer additional services with personal training packages, such as: nutrition coaching, online workout programs, and more. Such services will likely increase the price tag, because, well, nothing is really free, is it?
The question is, what’s right for you? A free membership at a smaller gym where you get small group training sessions, or a super professional personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), who carefully plans each workout session for you and tracks your progress each week? A premium personal trainer will help you work out safely and lead you toward your goals with great efficiency. While most people will benefit greatly from working with a premium personal trainer, the additional price for private sessions may not be the best investment for all. If you’re simply interested in a workout partner to give you some ideas and tips for working out, a low-cost gym membership may be exactly what you’re looking for!
Our Picks
EOS Fitness
EOS Fitness is a low-cost gym that aims to provide a gym experience that is cheaper than the alternatives.
Eos fitness actually has two locations, with one on Northsight and the other on Mayo blvd in North Scottsdale.
EOS is known for being a low-cost option. They do a great job of offering a bare-bones fitness solution, and their personal training is no exception. Expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 per session, but of course, you will likely be paired with a trainer that has limited experience and/or education at this price point. Also, their trainers are required to do sales, which means they will need to direct a lot of time and energy toward selling clients on personal training and not training itself. And since this is a stripped down option to achieve that low price point, EOS does not have a Registered Dietitian on staff, so you won’t be able to obtain expert nutrition services that could help you lose weight and get in shape. Lastly, they do not offer progress tracking and do not require their trainers to get results for their clients.
Overall, expect a low price point that provides an opportunity to train with a personal trainer and get some new ideas to freshen your exercise regimen, but at this price, don’t necessarily expect them to achieve significant progress toward your fitness and wellness goals.
Location: 14843 N Northsight Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Personal Training Price: $40-$70/hr
Additional Fees: $10/monthly membership
Are Personal Trainers Required to Do Sales As Well? Yes.
Is there a Registered Dietitian on staff? No.
Is 3D Progress Tracking Available? No.
Are Personal Trainers Required to Get Results For Their Clients? No.
Life Time Fitness
Life Time Fitness is a high-end gym with lots of amenities that aims to be a “luxury athletic resort”.
Life Time Fitness is undeniably a luxury gym with first-class amenities that includes: sauna, pool, rock-climbing wall, and more. Expect to find quality personal trainers on staff, but be sure to look for ones that have tenure, because like other commercial gyms, Life Time Fitness has high turnover.
Since they require their trainers to do sales, Life Time and other commercial gyms benefit from warm bodies on the gym floor trying to sell personal training. Many of these trainers will not survive in this environment, so the ones that are left will either be good trainers, good sales people, or hopefully both.
Life Time also has a registered dietitian on staff, so they will be able to provide you with a full-scale fitness and nutrition plan for meeting your personal fitness goals.
Unfortunately, while they do provide progress tracking measurements upon request, they do not require their personal trainers to get results for their clients.
Overall, you’ll get a lot at Life Time Fitness, which also comes with a much higher price tag of $119/hr (plus ~$100/month membership). You will be working in a luxurious space with a lot of high-end equipment, amenities, and services. Also, the options for personal trainers are much better than most other commercial gyms, but there are still some drawbacks to consider.
Location: 6850 E Chauncey Ln, Scottsdale, AZ 85054
Personal Training Cost: $119/hr
Additional Fees: $90-$110/month membership
Are Personal Trainers Required to Do Sales As Well? Yes.
Is there a Registered Dietitian on staff? Yes.
Is 3D Progress Tracking Available? Yes, for an additional fee.
Are Personal Trainers Required to Get Results For Their Clients? No.
Esporta
Esporta is a part of the LA Fitness chain of gyms, with more than 700 locations across the US and Canada.
When training with Esporta, you are benefiting from all the things that come along with one of the largest gym chains in the nation. You should expect a clean facility, well-vetted procedures, and a price point that benefits from economies of scale. Also, they’re by no means a bare-bones gym, meaning they will also have some additional amenities and perks beyond a simple exercise floor.
However, when searching for a personal trainer at Esporta, you may find it challenging to find seasoned professionals in the one on one training department. LA Fitness (AKA Esporta) has a very high turnover in their personal training department, even compared to the already high rate in the industry. The personal trainers will likely be underpaid and also work under very stressful sales goals. They do not have a registered dietitian on staff, and they do not require staff to provide results for their clients.
If you make it to a sales desk, don't be surprise if you experience a sales experience that feels akin to purchasing a car. With complicated bundles and special pricing, and required minimum purchases, the whole thing can be more than a little overwhelming.
Overall, as a gym, Esporta presents a wonderful value to its members. Despite all the potential risks for working with a trainer at Esporta, there are also some very good trainers that make their way through LA Fitness/Esporta! Just be warned that if you do happen to find one, their schedules fill up incredibly quickly, and it may be difficult to find availability.
Location: 7365 N Vía Paseo Del Sur, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Personal Training Cost It’s complicated. A minimum 4 month commitment is usually required, with that minimum package ranging between $1200-$1600
Additional Fees: $10/month membership + $150 initiation fee
Are Personal Trainers Required to Do Sales As Well? Yes.
Is there a Registered Dietitian on staff? No.
Is 3D Progress Tracking Available? No.
Are Personal Trainers Required to Get Results For Their Clients? No.
Mobile Trainers
Mobile Trainers is a new concept in the fitness industry. They are “taking the industry’s top personal trainers out of the gym and delivering them to your home.” Wildly popular among those looking to avoid the gym, they are a premier In-Home personal training Service focused on corrective exercises and measurable results.
Mobile Trainers is a company built around personal training, and its innovative model attempts to improve upon the customer experience found at a gym. First, Mobile Trainers comes to you, bringing all the equipment and accountability necessary to kick your fitness plan into high gear. Also, unlike most commercial gyms, Mobile Trainers does not require its trainers to do sales, allowing them to focus all their time and attention on helping their clients reach their goals! Mobile Trainers actually provides monthly in-home 3D body scans, and their top Scottsdale trainers are actually held accountable for delivering measurable results for each client - something rarely seen in the fitness industry.
Now, let's talk about nutrition. An often overlooked, but extremely important, part of any successful fitness program is nutrition coaching. Mobile Trainers provides basic nutrition coaching to all its clients and has a Registered Dietitian on staff for full meal-plan design.
Overall, when you work with Mobile Trainers, expect to receive more of a “private trainer” experience, where a highly skilled fitness professional will spend time understanding your goals and working to help you reach them safely and effectively. Mobile Trainers’ price point is higher than some of the other alternatives mentioned in this article, but the additional cost brings with it a high-level fitness professional, a larger focus on your goals, monthly progress monitoring, and the convenience of training in your own home! Do your research and find what's healthy for your wallet and yourself! Get in shape, stay healthy, develop strength and save time working out with a good personal trainer.
Location: 7720 E Evans Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Website
Personal Training Price: $109/hr, $79/half. Includes travel to destination, provision of equipment, nutrition coaching, and monthly 3D body scans (measure progress)
Additional Fees: $0
Are Personal Trainers Required to Do Sales As Well? No.
Is there a Registered Dietitian on staff? Yes.
Is 3D Progress Tracking Available? Yes. Included with any personal training purchase.
Are Personal Trainers Required to Get Results For Their Clients? Yes.
Why isn’t this list longer?
This list only contains fitness companies and does not contain individuals/freelancers. Many of these individual trainers run a personal training business out of their garage or car, and while there can be some talented individuals out there, it is important to be aware of several risks they entail:
- Insurance: Many individual trainers do not carry insurance, leaving you unprotected from any potential injury or damage to your property.
- A Legal Contractual Agreement For Services: Without a proper legal contract, you may be exposed to several legal risks, including a potential lawsuit if that trainer who comes to your place in person is injured on your property
- Reliability: Individual trainers have no one to hold them accountable to their schedule. Also, if a higher paying client comes along and wants the time slot you’ve reserved, often times you are likely to be “rescheduled”
- Trainer Quality: Companies hold their employees and equipment to a higher standard. Most fitness companies will require quality fitness certifications accreditated by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or even a four-year degree (as is the case of a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist or an Exercise Science Specialist). Moreover, these companies will have training and procedures to maintain quality conduct and job performance.
- Equipment Quality: Companies will also likely impose quality control on their equipment itself, reducing the risk of injury, whereas a freelancer may not. Needless to say, this creates a risk for injury.
- Multiple Specialists and Services to Choose From: The fitness companies on this list will all include multiple personal trainers to choose from. This presents a huge advantage to you as the client, because you can be paired with a trainer that has expertise and experience in the fitness goals you want to focus on and will help you train according to your fitness level. Additionally, these companies will likely have a registered dietitian on staff who can help you from the very first session hone your nutrition to support your fitness goals.
How to Get Started
If you’re interested in working with Mobile Trainers, simply give us a call or schedule a complementary consultation via our online form, and a member of our staff will contact you shortly to confirm an appointment. The road to that perfect body starts with one session. We look forward to joining you on your fitness journey!
