If you’ve just finished your indoor cycling instructor course and are wondering how much money you can count on at the beginning of your career, check out our article.
Check it out as well, if you already have a career record in running indoor cycling classes but want to negotiate a raise, change the studio you work for or start running your own classes and need to establish your gym pricing strategy.
Key Takeaways
- The average annual spin instructor salary in the USA is reported to be $53,000 - $93,000.
- Due to the growing popularity of this type of training, labor market experts agreed that instructors will be able to count on rising salaries.
- Indoor cycling equipment users, randomly selected in a fitness survey, mostly confirmed that they would be willing to pay for individual classes, as with a personal trainer. So here comes a money-making option for spin instructors, who previously only lead group classes.
Spin Instructor Salary
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a cycling instructor in the USA is $53,000 – $93,000 per year. In the form on the Glassdoor website, you can also indicate the number of years of experience, which affects the salary.
Additionally, the company states that $70,000 yearly is the median total pay of indoor cycling instructors, with $49,000 – $86,000 per year being the base pay, and $4K – $8K being the additional pay.
How Much Do Spin Instructors Earn?
The answer, as is often the case, is “it depends.” Let’s see the most important factors influencing the spin fitness pay.
How Long You Have Been Running Spin Classes
If you are experienced in running indoor cycling classes or self-employed, your annual salary could be as much as $93,000 yearly, according to Glassdoor data from 2025.
So maybe it’s worth it to check how to start a spin studio.
Yet, if you’re just starting out in spin classes, you can expect to earn $53,000 yearly.
Additional Spin Gym Pay for Active Instructors
It’s worth remembering that you can often get extras on top of your base salary. So be active in your role and take part in gym events, provide workshops for people of every level, or develop your own signature training program, for which you can earn more per hour.
Of course, not all instructors can be self-employed and run classes on their own terms. To earn more, show initiative and be appreciated by the gym owner. Here’s how you can show commitment:
Improve Your Studio’s Operations Thanks to Software
Instructors who help improve the gym’s operations (like using a dedicated spin studio software such as WodGuru) are often more valuable to employers and may negotiate higher pay or performance-based bonuses.
Good gym software will not only provide studio owners with organized procedures, easy management and contact with the client. Such a tool is also useful for the instructor, for you, among others thanks to:
- the gym staff management software module, where you can enter your absences, replacements and overtime,
- and gym membership software where you keep up to date with each client.
Want to know more about the highly recommended software solution on the spin fitness market? Try now for free!
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Other Type of Payment Level Factors
- Location & Cost of Living: big‑city spin gyms in the US typically pay 20‑40 % more than smaller markets.
- Employment Model: full‑time staff get a stable annual pay (€40‑60 k) plus benefits; freelance instructors are paid per class work (€25‑€75) and rely on volume.
- Career & Credentials: national certifications (e.g., ACE, NASM) and 3 + years of teaching can boost rates by 15‑30 %.
- Studio Brand & Clientele: premium chains (SoulCycle, Peloton Studios, BoomCycle) and luxury gyms pay the highest rates; budget gyms pay less.
- Class Volume & Certain Time Attendance: high fill rates and popular time slots (early‑morning, after‑work) often trigger attendance bonuses or tiered pay.
- Special Skills & Personal Branding: instructors who livestream classes, maintain a strong gym social media channels, or offer specialized spin activities (e.g., trademarked spin formats, rhythm‑cycling, weights cycling, HIIT spin) can command premium fees and sponsorships.
- Revenue Sharing & Tips – Some companies split merchandise or membership upsell revenue; urban spin gyms may allow cashless tipping, adding 5‑10 % to income.
FAQ
In most countries, instructors who teach 8–10 classes a week lead to an average annual pay of ≈ US $45 k–$60 k.
Elite SoulCycle instructors who lead sold‑out class after class can get up to US $3 k per week, or roughly $150 k+ a year, for example in the United States.
The highest‑paid Peloton instructor widely reported is Cody Rigsby; sources estimate he gains ≈ US $500 k–$700 k yearly, thanks to high class counts, brand deals, and his large following across the country.
