Why We Love It
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$40,970Potential Avg. Salary
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8.4%Job Growth Rate
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
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Creativity FocusedCareer Attribute
Zumba instructors lead aerobics classes using the Zumba style. They take basic moves and formulas of the Zumba style and apply them to music to choreograph dance and workout routines that help students lose weight, build muscles, tone bodies, and improve or maintain cardiovascular health.
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What is a Zumba Instructor?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in Zumba instructor roles:
- Teach Zumba classes to individuals in different age groups and at different skill levels
- Choreograph routines using Zumba steps and formulas
- Perform routines so that students can follow the instructor’s lead during classes
- Observe students during routines to offer advice or guidance on improvement
- Market classes to attract new students and increase enrollments
A Day in the Life
Zumba instructors teach aerobics courses using the signature Zumba style. Zumba is an exercise routine that is grounded in dancing, so it provides dual benefits: it gets people in shape and allows them to engage in a fun activity. Zumba uses steps from four dance styles—Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, and Reggaeton—and combines them using a specific formula that allows instructors to choreograph routines to any song they choose. Instructors perform those moves for students to follow during classes.
During class, the Zumba instructor usually performs the routine along with the students so that students can watch the instructor to learn what moves to do and how to do them correctly. While performing the routine, the instructor must also observe the class and talk to them, offering advice, motivation, and direction. The instructor makes sure that exercises are being performed correctly so that students avoid injury, and gives guidance on how to move during exercises to avoid strains.
Beyond teaching, Zumba instructors may have additional responsibilities. They may need to choreograph new routines frequently in order to feature dances to popular new songs and to offer variety of routines during sessions to prevent boredom. Additionally, instructors are commonly paid based on the number of class enrollments or attendees, so the instructor may need to market his/her classes locally to drive enrollments and encourage interested individuals to attend classes being taught.
Typical Work Schedule
Zumba instructors may work either part-time or full-time schedules, and they commonly work during first shift, second shift, and on weekends when gyms and studios are the busiest.
Typical Employers
Zumba instructors are commonly employed by gyms and other fitness centers. Some may also be self-employed and own their own studios, or may teach classes for other studio owners on a freelance basis.
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How To Become a Zumba Instructor
Becoming a Zumba instructor is a relatively simple process. You must be at least 18 years old, and you must attend an 8-hour basic training course. It helps if you’ve taken one or more Zumba classes on your own before going to instructor training, but it is not required. In the basic training, you’ll learn the basic steps used in Zumba fitness classes, and how to use a formula to translate those steps to be used to choregraph a routine for any song you’d like to use in your classes. Once you complete basic training, you can start teaching Zumba classes.
Next, you’ll need to choreograph some routines, and you’ll need to find a venue where you can teach Zumba. If you own a fitness studio already, you can simply add Zumba to your course offerings. If you don’t own your own studio, you can look for other studios or gyms that are seeking aerobics or Zumba instructors and talk to them about joining their team on either a full-time or freelance basis. Even studios that aren’t currently offering Zumba may be willing to add the class to their offerings.
After you’ve mastered teaching basic Zumba and have found an outlet for teaching, you may also want to expand the types of courses you offer by taking a specialized training session. Through the Zumba organization, you can enroll for instructor training courses that are focused on teaching classes for seniors or children, or Zumba courses that are catered to specific exercise goals like strength training, lower-body focused training, body toning, or even Aqua Zumba—a form of Zumba water aerobics.
Zumba Instructor Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$23,280Average
$40,970High Range
$70,180National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$11/hrAverage
$20/hrHigh Range
$34/hrHow do Zumba Instructor salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Zumba Instructor's can make an average annual salary of $40,970, or $20 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $23,280 or $11 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#511 Nationally for All Careers
Highest Education Among Zumba Instructors
- 1.2% Doctorate
- 9.7% Masters
- 36.4% Bachelors
- 9.1% Associates
- 25% College
- 16.2% High School
- 2.4% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
279,1002024 Est. Jobs
302,500Job Growth Rate
8.4%Est. New Jobs
23,400How does Zumba Instructor job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 23,400 jobs for a total of 302,500 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 8.4% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#264 Nationally for All Careers
What Companies Employ The Most Zumba Instructors
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness and recreational sports centers | 161,800 | 14,300 | 14% |
| Civic and social organizations | 34,000 | 400 | 0% |
| Self-employed workers | 29,500 | 2,100 | 2% |
