Build the class schedule
Match each instructor to a class slot, and update the shared schedule whenever plans change.
Career profile
Fitness and Wellness Coordinator
Fitness and wellness coordinators plan and run exercise programs, guide instructors and decide what's next.
Plenty of people want to get healthier. This job turns that wish into classes they can actually attend, with staff, rooms and equipment ready.
A day in the life
Give a trainer feedback
Sit down with a trainer or fitness intern to talk about how they're doing and where to improve.
Figure out why attendance dropped
Line up sign-in counts with what participants said, and do it before you change any class.
Get workout equipment serviced
Follow up on a problem with a piece of workout equipment and set up its servicing.
Quick facts
Relevant experience matters
United States
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Compare the position's hiring range and weekly hours.
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Explore openings by setting, including recreation programs and employee wellness.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Relevant experience mattersA bachelor's degree plus program experience is one route; some employers accept less schooling with relevant experience.
Pay
Not displayedCompare the position's hiring range and weekly hours.
Outlook
Not displayedExplore openings by setting, including recreation programs and employee wellness.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy organizing activities other people will lead.
- You can give useful feedback without making it personal.
- You want to know why people stop attending.
Things to weigh
- Expect desk time for reports and schedules; special events can change your usual hours.
- Some jobs mix office work with noisy events, standing, and moving equipment.
Where AI may help
Digital records help you track participation and prepare reports.
What people still lead
You still lead staff conversations and decide how to respond when a program misses people's needs.
What we can’t predict yet
How much software will take over program planning remains uncertain; a participation count alone cannot explain someone's experience.
Pay in context
Earnings
Compare hiring ranges carefully: a full pay grade can extend well above the expected starting offer.
Park-system coordination
In Fairfax County, Virginia, a January 2026 recruitment listed $62,482.37–$104,137.49 a year ($30.04–$50.07 an hour). This was the full grade; starting pay considered relevant experience, education, and certifications.
Employee wellness
In Manatee County, Florida, a January 2026 recruitment listed an expected starting range of $51,912–$67,485.60 annually for full-time hourly work.
Getting started
Combine college with program experience
- What the route involves
- Study a relevant field such as health education, then gain experience delivering and coordinating wellness or fitness programs.
- What it can lead to
- San Diego County's coordinator classification accepts a bachelor's degree plus three years of qualifying professional experience.
- What to check
- This is an employer requirement. It also allows additional qualifying experience to replace education year for year.
Build qualifying experience without a required degree
- What the route involves
- After high school or equivalent, build progressively responsible experience in health services, social services, or wellness coordination.
- What it can lead to
- Rockville's senior-center coordinator recruitment required three years of that experience; a bachelor's degree was preferred.
- What to check
- Emergency Medical Responder certification or equivalent was also preferred, not required. This route describes eligibility, not an available opening.
Build experience delivering programs before seeking responsibility for a whole program. Education requirements vary by employer.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the program's participation records and staff processes so you can keep activities running reliably.
Improve a program
Take responsibility for a budget and use participant feedback to revise an offering.
Lead a larger operation
Work toward fitness-center manager or wellness director responsibilities, including staff development and program budgets.
Where you can work
Public recreation systems
Combine office planning with community events and coordination across recreation centers. You may work with fitness directors and local health partners.
- Office
- Field work
Employee wellness programs
Work with trainers and health coaches on employee activities, participation incentives, and benefits events.
- Office
- Indoors
Senior centers
Plan activities for older adults and connect participants with community services. Some positions are part-time and include city events.
- Indoors
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch a week of fitness classes using one room and two imaginary instructors. Give each instructor different available hours, then remove one class slot. Revise the calendar and write a short explanation for participants. Notice whether you enjoy solving the scheduling problem.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 11-9179.01 — Fitness and Wellness Coordinators. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Fairfax County. Wellness Coordinator (Park/Rec Specialist II), job 26-00225. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Manatee County Government. Worksite Wellness Coordinator, job 26-00054. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- County of San Diego. Wellness Coordinator — classification 002393. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- City of Rockville. Senior Health and Wellness Coordinator, job 202600016. Accessed 2026-10-04.