What is the best state to be a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Massachusetts is the best state for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors: a BLS median of $64,620 is worth $58,255 after the 2025 state income tax ($3,011) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 105.8), an index of 128.3 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors at $64,620, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 128.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors salary goes furthest in Massachusetts — a $64,620 BLS median worth $58,255 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 128.3).

Which US states are best for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors after cost of living and tax?

For a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Massachusetts #1: a $64,620 BLS median becomes $58,255 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 128.3). Nebraska ranks last ($34,240, index 75.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Massachusetts ranks #1 of 51 states for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors. Index 100 = the average state; 128.3 means pay goes 28.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

128.3

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Massachusetts	$64,620	$3,011	105.8	$58,255	128.3
2	Nevada	$57,960	—	100.0	$57,972	127.7
3	Connecticut	$61,580	$1,846	103.6	$57,653	126.9
4	Vermont	$57,300	$1,501	98.0	$56,962	125.4
5	Wyoming	$50,250	—	92.7	$54,212	119.4
6	New Jersey	$59,870	$1,760	108.8	$53,407	117.6
7	Oregon	$58,510	$4,316	103.4	$52,432	115.5
8	Tennessee	$47,380	—	91.9	$51,573	113.6
9	California	$57,990	$1,576	110.7	$50,952	112.2
10	Idaho	$49,780	$1,715	95.5	$50,333	110.8
11	Louisiana	$44,410	$957	88.2	$49,262	108.5
12	Oklahoma	$44,520	$1,577	87.8	$48,886	107.6
13	Kentucky	$45,280	$1,680	90.2	$48,359	106.5
14	North Carolina	$46,450	$1,432	94.3	$47,726	105.1
15	Washington	$50,830	—	107.0	$47,499	104.6
16	New Hampshire	$49,360	—	104.2	$47,386	104.3
17	New Mexico	$44,680	$1,001	92.2	$47,368	104.3
18	Georgia	$47,150	$1,895	96.3	$46,998	103.5
19	Arizona	$47,980	$725	100.7	$46,938	103.4
20	Colorado	$49,900	$1,536	103.1	$46,932	103.3
21	Maine	$47,060	$1,562	97.0	$46,881	103.2
22	Arkansas	$42,140	$1,435	86.9	$46,821	103.1
23	Wisconsin	$44,200	$1,190	94.1	$45,709	100.6
24	Michigan	$45,520	$1,688	96.2	$45,555	100.3
25	South Carolina	$43,630	$1,098	93.7	$45,368	99.9
26	South Dakota	$40,070	—	88.6	$45,233	99.6
27	Alaska	$46,210	—	102.4	$45,145	99.4
28	Pennsylvania	$45,250	$1,389	97.6	$44,952	99.0
29	Montana	$43,940	$1,454	94.6	$44,890	98.8
30	Illinois	$46,800	$2,176	100.0	$44,643	98.3
31	Rhode Island	$45,640	$1,112	102.3	$43,536	95.9
32	Maryland	$47,420	$1,920	105.0	$43,351	95.5
33	Utah	$44,800	$2,038	98.9	$43,253	95.2
34	Minnesota	$43,620	$1,534	98.6	$42,675	94.0
35	Delaware	$44,340	$1,784	99.8	$42,638	93.9
36	North Dakota	$37,760	—	89.0	$42,447	93.5
37	Alabama	$39,180	$1,694	88.8	$42,203	92.9
38	Texas	$40,880	—	97.1	$42,120	92.7
39	Hawaii	$48,290	$2,161	110.0	$41,954	92.4
40	New York	$47,090	$1,985	107.9	$41,795	92.0
41	West Virginia	$38,120	$1,036	89.5	$41,436	91.2
42	Iowa	$36,160	$1,334	87.8	$39,682	87.4
43	Missouri	$36,450	$832	90.8	$39,219	86.4
44	Ohio	$36,370	$218	92.8	$38,968	85.8
45	Virginia	$40,820	$1,547	101.1	$38,844	85.5
46	Kansas	$35,900	$1,204	90.1	$38,523	84.8
47	Florida	$38,800	—	103.4	$37,519	82.6
48	Indiana	$34,960	$1,019	93.3	$36,367	80.1
49	District of Columbia	$39,210	$1,253	109.9	$34,538	76.1
50	Mississippi	$30,540	$539	87.0	$34,503	76.0
51	Nebraska	$31,440	$588	90.1	$34,240	75.4

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Massachusetts, a $64,620 salary is worth about $55,603 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $5,816 (≈ top marginal 9.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $58,804 · BEA cost of living 105.8 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $72,946, a $17,343 gain over Massachusetts.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$72,946	88.6
2	Arkansas	$71,431	86.9
3	Louisiana	$71,062	88.2
4	Mississippi	$71,046	87.0
5	Iowa	$70,833	87.8
6	North Dakota	$70,824	89.0
7	Tennessee	$70,339	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$70,069	87.8
9	Wyoming	$69,716	92.7
10	Alabama	$69,114	88.8
11	Kentucky	$68,806	90.2
12	West Virginia	$68,723	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Massachusetts is the best state for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors: a BLS median of $64,620 is worth $58,255 after the 2025 state income tax ($3,011) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 105.8), an index of 128.3 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors at $64,620, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 128.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors salary go least far?: Nebraska ranks last of 51 states for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors: a $31,440 BLS median is worth only $34,240 after tax and cost of living (index 75.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.