How to Become a Peloton Instructor

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Are you passionate about fitness? Do you want to build a career inspiring people and teaching them how to be fit? If so, you may make an incredible Peloton instructor! Peloton makes high-end exercise equipment that allows users to participate in group classes from the comfort of their home. If you’d like to bring these people together and get paid a good chunk of change at the same time, read on to learn how you can become a Peloton instructor.

Things You Should Know

Build your brand as a trainer or fitness guru to put yourself in a great position to land the gig as a Peloton instructor.
Peloton instructors tend to be vivacious, outgoing, and personable public figures who love all things exercise.
You must be a master in your fitness field, so learn as much as you possibly can while you work towards your goal.

Section 1 of 6:

What’s a Peloton instructor?

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Peloton is an indoor workout company that sells bikes and treadmills. Peloton sells smart bikes and treadmills with built-in touchscreens. On those screens, users can participate in fitness classes, track their progress, and communicate with others while they workout. It’s a great way for people to get that social group workout experience at home!^{[1]
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- Peloton blew up in popularity during the COVID-19 lockdowns, since people couldn’t go to the gym or fitness studio.
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Peloton instructors teach the remote fitness classes. The instructors are the fitness professionals who provide live and recorded instruction for the users around the world. Different instructors have unique personalities and areas of expertise. However, Peloton only offers courses in a few select areas, including:^{[2]
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- Spin/cycling
- Yoga
- Strength training
- Running
- Fitness bootcamps
- Meditation

Section 2 of 6:

How much do Peloton instructors make?

Peloton instructors can make up to $500,000 a year. Peloton does not release how much they pay their instructors, but journalists have looked into the evidence. It appears that the instructors are very well compensated. Some Peloton instructors have purchased million-dollar homes, so you should do alright if you end up working for Peloton as an instructor.^{[3]
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- Peloton is a publicly traded company, so you may be offered stock in addition to your salary if you’re hired!

Section 3 of 6:

How many Peloton instructors are there?

There are currently 34 Peloton instructors teaching courses. This is a pretty niche gig, and there aren’t many instructors out there. It is unclear if Peloton is actively looking for instructors right now, and they don’t tend to advertise it when they do. It is likely going to take time, effort, and perseverance to become a Peloton instructor.^{[4]
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- There are plenty of former instructors who have left Peloton to go pursue other goals, so you never know when a position will open up!
- The ages of Peloton’s instructors vary from 30 to 55 years old.

Section 4 of 6:

What skills and qualifications do you need to become a Peloton instructor?

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A passion for fitness If you eat, sleep, and breathe fitness, you’re going to be extremely happy as a Peloton instructor. Peloton sells itself as a lifestyle brand, and they expect their instructors to be fervent and eager to stay fit.^{[5]
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- Many Peloton instructors work out 5 days a week on top of the classes they teach. If that sounds exciting to you, you’ve got what it takes to be a Peloton instructor.
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A deep knowledge of fitness instruction Do people at the gym come to you for advice when they need help mastering their form? Are you in a running group where you outpace everyone around you with your superior form? If so, you may be a great Peloton instructor. As an instructor, you must be an expert in your field.^{[6]
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- If you aren’t an expert in your field now, get started! Sign up for some advanced fitness classes, watch tutorials online, and read books about fitness in your spare time.
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An ability to construct a fitness program Believe it or not, Peloton instructors aren’t just spokespeople—they actually craft their own classes from start to finish. As such, you must know how to compose workout plans. This involves arranging different exercises in an order to accomplish specific goals for different audiences.^{[7]
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- If you haven’t been crafting your own workout plans, start doing it now! Experiment with different workout and exercise compositions to see how they impact fitness outcomes.
- As a personal trainer, you’ll get a lot of experience putting different exercise routines together.
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A talent for motivational and public speaking Confidence is key if you’re going to work for Peloton as an instructor. If you like being the center of attention and you’ve got a predilection for inspiring confidence in others, you may be the right fit to lead a Peloton class.^{[8]
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- Practice public speaking at every opportunity. You might join a Toastmaster’s group, volunteer at work or school to give presentations, or practice talking to strangers.
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Be a highly qualified trainer with experience If you’ve never worked as a personal trainer, now is the time to become one! While Peloton’s instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds, almost all of them worked as fitness coaches of some sort. Look for openings near you at your local gym or get started as a personal trainer with private clients.^{[9]
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- If possible, work your way up to teaching group fitness classes. Peloton prides itself on its group classes and community, and teaching group classes is excellent experience.

Section 5 of 6:

How to Apply to Become a Peloton Instructor

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Send your resume to jobs@onepeloton.com. There’s nothing wrong with taking your shot and letting them know you’re interested! Email them your resume and craft a short email explaining that you’re interested in teaching their classes. Attach your resume and any other supplemental materials you’ve got that you think will help you land the gig.^{[10]
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- If you’ve got a YouTube channel, personal website, or examples of your curriculum, include all of that, too!
- On your resume, highlight any exercise accomplishments, like marathons, and emphasize your experience as a teacher or public speaker.
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Sign up for the Peloton Talent Community program. Visit the Peloton’s website and sign up for their Talent Community program to get updates on openings, news, and potential opportunities. All you need to do is enter your personal information, answer a few questions, and upload your resume. You’ll be the first to know if something opens up.^{[11]
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Wait for Peloton to discover you and reach out. Almost all of the Peloton instructors were handpicked by the company for the role. After you’ve reached out with your resume, continue to work as a trainer or fitness pro. Acquire as many clients as you can and keep making a name for yourself. If you’re persistent, Peloton may reach out.^{[12]
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- Build your personal brand. Promote yourself as a fitness guru on social media, and document the progress you and your clients make to acquire as many followers as possible.
- Peloton instructors are sort of celebrities. They have big Instagram profiles with tons of followers. If possible, keep pushing your online presence. The more popular you are, the more interested Peloton will be.
- Peloton likes instructors who are good ambassadors of their brand, so keep your posts upbeat, positive, and motivational.
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Expect to spend 6 months auditioning and training. It’s not totally clear what happens when Peloton reaches out with interest in you, but it appears that potential trainers need to spend a few months auditioning, proving themselves, and interviewing. There may even be training sessions to see if you can handle what Peloton would have in store for you.^{[13]
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- You’ll audition multiple times. Peloton will want to test how comfortable you are on camera.
- Once you are hired as a trainer, it may be an additional 10-20 weeks of training before you are allowed to teach your first class.
- Practice talking while working out before you audition! It’s a surprisingly tough skill to master.

Section 6 of 6:

What It’s Like to Be a Peloton Instructor

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You’ll craft your fitness curriculum and design your course. As an instructor, you will compose the agenda of what students do during their time with you. Work with Peloton to construct your classes based on what kind of course you’re leading.^{[14]
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- For example, if you’re a spin teacher leading a beginner class, the first session may cover biking mechanics followed by a light cycling session.
- If you’re teaching an advanced strength training class, you might start with a little stretching, warm up jumping jacks, and then go into weight training exercises, like bicep curls, overhead lifts, and barbell rows.
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You’ll work with Peloton to shoot videos and stream classes. Most Peloton instructors teach live classes in addition to shooting pre-composed videos for users to watch any time. Work with your content team and video producers to shoot your live classes and record your fitness videos.^{[15]
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- It looks like most of Peloton’s instructors shoot their sessions in New York City, although they may have remote positions at other studios.
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You’ll work out a lot outside of classes. As a Peloton instructor, it’s important that you stay in peak physical shape. Some instructors work out 4-5 times a week on top of all of the classes they teach. Keep up with your cardio and don’t forget your strength training. You’re going to need all the experience and practice you can get!^{[16]
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