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Original poster

Jobs like personal trainer, garden designer……

85 replies

FlamingoHels · 02/11/2023 21:48

Obviously there’s exceptions to every rule, but on the whole are they just for well off women / women with wealthy partners who don’t really need to earn much?

I know one PT and one GD (acquaintances rather than close friends) and both don’t appear to have many actual clients / paid jobs although they are very active on social media and create an illusion of being busy. Both appear good at what they do and have good marketing skills from what I can tell.

Was chatting about this to a friend who is herself looking for a career change away from the corporate sector, and she said she’d actually love to do something along the lines of PT or GD (she’s very sporty and outdoorsy) but she dismissed both of these jobs as hobby jobs for housewives. Friend isn’t rich and needs to earn a living wage.

Is anyone here a PT or GD or know one closely?

OP posts:

cardibach · 02/11/2023 21:50

My PT is a single parent of two small children, so no. That’s not the case. She makes her living from training and some other services like make up and life coaching. Very ordinary background. She’s very good at her job and well qualified.

dessertorchide · 02/11/2023 21:50

I know a PT. She loves it as can pick her hours to fit in with family life. The being constantly on to maintain 20k ish social media following is exhausting though. She’s not annoying on social media though like many.

I also know a garden designer, but he has a degree in horticulture, started out raking leaves for £6/h at a National Trust place and has won prizes at Chelsea etc so it’s not really a pretend job.

feelingcrapaboutlife · 02/11/2023 21:55

Yes and no.
I don't think you can dismiss jobs as 'housewife jobs'. 3 clients a week can be £120 a week, which is enough to cover food for a family.
A professional job earning 55K a year can be pin money if the mortgage is 4.5k a month.

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Doggymummar · 02/11/2023 21:58

I would think they were both in the region of £60k for full-time. My PT was £35 an hour more than a decade ago with no overheads ( park, beach etc) the garden designer in my BNI is over £100k, on a par with interior designer, lighting designer, plumber etc.

Doggymummar · 02/11/2023 21:59

Get your friend to look on companies house

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/11/2023 22:03

I know quite a few PTs of none of them are "hobby jobs". In fact, the PT I used to train with a few years ago set up his own PT studio and has done so well that he now has a team of PTs working for him, quite a few celebrity clients and drives a Ferrari. If you're good at what you do and work hard, you can be very successful.

HedgehogOBrien · 02/11/2023 22:04

No, it’s just an excuse people make up to look down on women and also be a twat about paying for a job.

TotalOverhaul · 02/11/2023 22:04

My friend who is a PT works hard and earns all her own money. Her husband is also a PT. They run classes as well. No other income, but have two cars and own their own home, as well as helping out family.

I know two other PTs. One runs it as a business and the other is more like you describe.

determinedtomakethiswork · 02/11/2023 22:07

I think a garden designer could potentially earn a lot more than a personal trainer.

TotalOverhaul · 02/11/2023 22:07

I also know three garden designers. One has won gold medals at Chelsea and awards at Hampton Court. The other worked hard but struggled to make ends meet. The third is married to an immensely rich man and takes on a lot of community projects which I suspect pay very little or nothing but she does a brilliant, professional job and works hard.

Applecrumbleyum · 02/11/2023 22:07

I am a PT, self employed.

I work about 25-30hrs a week. It’s flexible around my young children and I get to do lots of other things I enjoy during the day as I often work all morning and then an hour or two in the evening. I’m earning around £50k. I could earn more than that and plan to grow my business next year.

If you’re good at it, you actually can help people change their lives and health in such a positive way and earn pretty well.

My business has the scope to grow quite a lot as well, when I’m ready for it.

bryceQ · 02/11/2023 22:08

I know a lot of yoga teachers who are supported by partners as they earn a hundred or two hundred a week.

Starmoonsu · 02/11/2023 22:09

Yanbu I’ve known a few PTs and although their hourly rates are high they don’t earn that much because they don’t have a consistent steam of clients every hour and also don’t get benefits you would in full time employment. They’ve all eventually quit and gone for more stable jobs.

The only people I know doing these ‘nice’ jobs are ones who don’t need the money as they have rich parents / spouses or were made redundant with an excellent payout with nothing left on the mortgage.

There will obviously be exceptions to the rule but generally speaking I think you are right however it’s not a gender based thing.

grottyb · 02/11/2023 22:09

No, you’re thinking of jobs like interior designer, yoga teacher etc.

ZenNudist · 02/11/2023 22:10

They are 2 very different jobs. Plenty of fitness fans get into being a PT.

Garden design requires qualifications. More fool anyone using a Garden designer who doesn't have some. It's not just for keen gardeners to go around deciding what to plant in a garden.

MrsRetriever · 02/11/2023 22:10

My PT goes on a lot of expensive-sounding holidays so probably not. (His wife is a civil servant though…)

NarrowGate · 02/11/2023 22:10

I used a garden designer because I inherited a very confusing and elaborate garden and didn’t know where to start, having never had even a pot plant before. She charged £2k for a morning’s consultation, drawings, and a plant list. If you manage a client a week you’re earning the same as a salaried GP, but with zero stress.

Boomboom22 · 02/11/2023 22:12

I find it quite horrifying that pt earn more than senior teachers on the top of mps. Why do people pay them so much? Wtf? 50k is more than top main pay scale for actual teaching of actual qualifications.

Optionyougot · 02/11/2023 22:15

I've known 3 PTs. One was contracted through a franchise type gym so limited on rates and what they could offer, she seems to move around a lot. The other other two have done this as their sole income for years, on the face of it earn well and work steadily. Their days must be incredibly long as they fit in their own session before 6am client sessions and seem to work through to 7/8pm at night. For them it definitely doesn't seem like a hobby style job.

MrsRetriever · 02/11/2023 22:18

Why is it horrifying? It’s a service that people want and use. Teachers are underpaid.

theduchessofspork · 02/11/2023 22:19

feelingcrapaboutlife · 02/11/2023 21:55

Well a £120 quid a week to cover food IS a very small contribution to a family’s budget.

Anyway statistically most PTs are blokes, and most PTs I know (quite a few, male and female) very much work full time - lots of early mornings and evenings.

I do know one hobbyist garden designer, but that’s not much of a sample.

Toomuchleopard · 02/11/2023 22:20

My PT does 6am - 10pm with 12-3pm off so it’s very much a full time job.

theduchessofspork · 02/11/2023 22:23

Boomboom22 · 02/11/2023 22:12

Don’t be ridiculous, it’s a business like any other, they are worth what people will pay.

People pay it because it’s a very effective way to transform your health.

The fact that teachers are underpaid doesn’t mean other occupations should be as well. The two things aren’t linked.

Whitecup24 · 02/11/2023 22:24

I know tonnes of PTs making 6 figures plus. Don’t know any GDS but like any business you can grow it to great money

ElaineMBenes · 02/11/2023 22:38

The two PTs I know run very successful businesses and have related qualifications.
Not a 'hobby' job at all.

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