Updated October 15, 2026. Data: U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, quarterly count of jobs and wages from employer tax records, first quarter 2026 vs. first quarter 2025. Figures are preliminary. Second-quarter 2026 figures are due in December.
Gyms and fitness centers employed about 672,754 people in early 2026, up 4.3% from a year earlier, at 47,160 locations (+4.0%). Tennessee stood out, up 46.4% to 13,636 jobs. After Tennessee, jobs grew fastest in South Dakota (+11.7%), Nevada (+10.8%) and Michigan (+10.2%). The biggest drops were in Nebraska (-20.5%), Hawaii (-12.2%) and Wyoming (-4.7%).
Change in jobs in each state
The biggest employers are California (91,368 jobs), Texas (49,806 jobs) and New York (46,508 jobs).
Every state: jobs, locations and pay
Click a column to sort. Jobs are the average of January, February and March.
| State | Jobs, Q1 2026 | Jobs, Q1 2025 | Change | Locations, Q1 2026 | Locations change | Average weekly pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 672,754 | 645,024 | +4.3% | 47,160 | +4.0% | $443 |
| Alabama | 7,718 | 7,220 | +6.9% | 652 | +7.6% | $306 |
| Alaska | 1,562 | 1,549 | +0.8% | 84 | +6.3% | $379 |
| Arizona | 16,403 | 15,672 | +4.7% | 879 | +0.0% | $451 |
| Arkansas | 3,421 | 3,317 | +3.1% | 345 | +3.3% | $369 |
| California | 91,368 | 86,654 | +5.4% | 6,234 | +6.5% | $507 |
| Colorado | 17,351 | 16,234 | +6.9% | 1,078 | +10.5% | $438 |
| Connecticut | 9,061 | 9,136 | -0.8% | 667 | +1.8% | $510 |
| Delaware | 3,390 | 3,360 | +0.9% | 168 | -7.2% | $344 |
| District of Columbia | 2,331 | 2,247 | +3.7% | 139 | +7.8% | $563 |
| Florida | 43,055 | 41,864 | +2.8% | 3,462 | +4.8% | $498 |
| Georgia | 17,034 | 15,920 | +7.0% | 1,653 | +2.4% | $434 |
| Hawaii | 1,636 | 1,863 | -12.2% | 137 | +0.7% | $427 |
| Idaho | 4,941 | 4,797 | +3.0% | 333 | +3.1% | $461 |
| Illinois | 27,563 | 26,145 | +5.4% | 1,518 | +5.9% | $486 |
| Indiana | 8,025 | 8,059 | -0.4% | 764 | -0.4% | $373 |
| Iowa | 5,571 | 5,488 | +1.5% | 382 | +0.8% | $283 |
| Kansas | 6,259 | 6,343 | -1.3% | 290 | -1.7% | $349 |
| Kentucky | 6,623 | 6,359 | +4.2% | 496 | +2.9% | $320 |
| Louisiana | 6,296 | 6,175 | +2.0% | 667 | +2.9% | $376 |
| Maine | 1,725 | 1,597 | +8.0% | 180 | -1.6% | $414 |
| Maryland | 14,490 | 14,436 | +0.4% | 757 | +0.4% | $387 |
| Massachusetts | 20,289 | 19,075 | +6.4% | 1,374 | +7.9% | $503 |
| Michigan | 13,693 | 12,426 | +10.2% | 992 | +4.1% | $456 |
| Minnesota | 12,801 | 12,802 | -0.0% | 800 | +0.8% | $417 |
| Mississippi | 3,782 | 3,775 | +0.2% | 360 | +6.8% | $285 |
| Missouri | 10,564 | 10,195 | +3.6% | 794 | +4.9% | $393 |
| Montana | 2,699 | 2,709 | -0.3% | 228 | +13.4% | $322 |
| Nebraska | 3,564 | 4,482 | -20.5% | 266 | -3.6% | $323 |
| Nevada | 6,894 | 6,224 | +10.8% | 392 | +1.8% | $373 |
| New Hampshire | 3,701 | 3,507 | +5.5% | 288 | +1.4% | $380 |
| New Jersey | 23,785 | 23,279 | +2.2% | 1,702 | +5.1% | $477 |
| New Mexico | 2,792 | 2,651 | +5.3% | 188 | -4.1% | $352 |
| New York | 46,508 | 45,766 | +1.6% | 2,643 | -0.9% | $609 |
| North Carolina | 25,759 | 24,789 | +3.9% | 1,757 | +8.9% | $354 |
| North Dakota | 2,260 | 2,276 | -0.7% | 122 | +0.8% | $351 |
| Ohio | 18,083 | 17,860 | +1.2% | 1,453 | +0.8% | $394 |
| Oklahoma | 6,348 | 6,160 | +3.1% | 488 | +4.9% | $323 |
| Oregon | 9,456 | 9,345 | +1.2% | 646 | -1.1% | $450 |
| Pennsylvania | 20,076 | 19,602 | +2.4% | 1,737 | +4.2% | $394 |
| Rhode Island | 2,086 | 1,988 | +4.9% | 218 | +3.8% | $407 |
| South Carolina | 10,108 | 9,711 | +4.1% | 709 | -0.7% | $313 |
| South Dakota | 1,128 | 1,010 | +11.7% | 119 | +8.2% | $292 |
| Tennessee | 13,636 | 9,314 | +46.4% | 990 | +12.2% | $358 |
| Texas | 49,806 | 47,386 | +5.1% | 3,790 | +3.7% | $483 |
| Utah | 8,831 | 8,099 | +9.0% | 484 | +8.0% | $315 |
| Vermont | 1,328 | 1,246 | +6.6% | 100 | -7.4% | $343 |
| Virginia | 24,748 | 23,948 | +3.3% | 1,428 | +4.7% | $379 |
| Washington | 17,128 | 16,509 | +3.8% | 1,167 | +3.1% | $426 |
| West Virginia | 1,518 | 1,537 | -1.2% | 145 | +5.1% | $313 |
| Wisconsin | 12,832 | 12,150 | +5.6% | 821 | +2.8% | $314 |
| Wyoming | 729 | 764 | -4.7% | 74 | +0.0% | $262 |
What the numbers show, and what they don’t
- Jumps this big are often about counting. Tennessee went from 9,314 to 13,636 jobs, and Nebraska from 4,482 to 3,564. When a large gym chain or a company that runs gyms changes how it reports its workers, or which industry it’s listed under, a state’s count can jump or drop even if the same people are working. The data alone can’t tell us how much of these moves is real growth.
- Small states swing more. Wyoming, South Dakota and Vermont each had fewer than 1,300 gym jobs.
- What’s included: gyms, health clubs, yoga and pilates studios, and similar fitness and recreation centers. Personal trainers who work for themselves aren’t counted.
For owners and would-be owners
- Many fitness businesses start small. Personal trainers and studio owners often begin solo. See how to set up an LLC.
- Opening a studio costs money up front. Equipment and a lease add up. See ways to fund a small business.
Opening a gym or studio?
Form your LLC with ZenBusiness. For coverage, compare business insurance quotes from Simply Business.
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How we counted
- Source: U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, industry 71394 (fitness and recreational sports centers), privately owned businesses, first quarter of 2026 and 2025.
- Jobs are the average of the three monthly counts and include full- and part-time workers on payroll. Owners with no payroll and self-employed people aren’t counted.
- Locations are individual work sites (establishments), not companies. One company with ten offices counts ten times.
- State is where the job is located as reported by the employer.
- Preliminary: first-quarter 2026 figures can be revised.
Sources
Cite this data
Reporters and bloggers may use these numbers and charts. Please credit StartBusinessByState and link to this page.
Source: StartBusinessByState, “Gym Jobs Grew 4.3% in a Year, With Tennessee Up 46%,” https://startbusinessbystate.com/gym-jobs/ (updated October 15, 2026).
FAQ
Are gym jobs growing?
Yes. Gym and fitness center jobs were 4.3% higher in the first quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, about 672,754, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
Why did Tennessee gym jobs jump?
Jobs rose 46%, from 9,314 to 13,636. The data doesn’t give a reason. Moves this large are often tied to a big employer changing how it reports workers.
Which states lost gym jobs?
Nebraska (-20.5%), Hawaii (-12.2%) and Wyoming (-4.7%).
Why is gym pay so low?
Many gym jobs, like front desk staff and class instructors, are part-time, which pulls down average weekly pay.
Where is this data from?
The U.S. Labor Department’s quarterly count of jobs from employer unemployment-insurance tax records, which covers nearly all payroll jobs.
Last updated October 15, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.