Fitness centers / Virginia
How many fitness and recreational sports centers are in Virginia?
The Census Bureau counted 1,220 fitness and recreational sports centers with paid employees in Virginia in 2023. That is 13.1% more than in 2017.
VIRGINIA · 2023
The count
1,220
fitness and recreational sports centers with paid employees
- Employees
- 21,975
- Average per site
- 18.0
- Change since 2017
- +13.1%
- State rank
- 11 of 51
What the number means
Virginia had 1,220 fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, ranking number 11 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 21,975 people and paid $381 million in annual payroll, an average of 18.0 employees per site.
These businesses make up 0.58% of every employer establishment in Virginia, above the 0.50% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.
40% of fitness and recreational sports centers in Virginia have fewer than 5 employees, against 41% across the U.S.
Virginia holds 2.9% of the nation's fitness and recreational sports centers and 2.5% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is over-represented. The most common size class is under 5 employees (490 sites). Average payroll per employee is $17,345, against $19,070 for the U.S. trade.
Size of the businesses
| Employees per site | Share | Sites | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 490 | 40.2% | |
| 5 to 9 | 214 | 17.5% | |
| 10 to 19 | 234 | 19.2% | |
| 20 to 49 | 145 | 11.9% | |
| 50 to 99 | 107 | 8.8% | |
| 100 to 249 | 26 | 2.1% | |
| 250 to 499 | 4 | 0.3% |
Count since 2017
Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 1,079; 2019 count 1,113; 2022 count 1,182; 2023 count 1,220. Employment −8.4% since 2017.
Biggest other trades in Virginia
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 7,154 | 142,779 | +3.6% |
| Landscaping services | 3,096 | 25,931 | +11.0% |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,765 | 34,582 | +4.1% |
| Beauty salons | 2,602 | 12,211 | +5.7% |
| General auto repair | 2,297 | 12,273 | −3.6% |
| Janitorial services | 2,136 | 38,660 | −4.6% |
| Child day care | 1,977 | 27,909 | +0.8% |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 1,516 | 19,952 | +19.3% |
Fitness centers in nearby ranks
| State | Sites | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,415 | 8 |
| Ohio | 1,294 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 1,230 | 10 |
| Georgia | 1,186 | 12 |
| Washington | 1,054 | 13 |
| Colorado | 972 | 14 |
All states for fitness and recreational sports centers · Every trade in Virginia
Questions
How many fitness and recreational sports centers are in Virginia?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 1,220 fitness and recreational sports centers with paid employees in Virginia in 2023. That ranks Virginia number 11 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Is the number of fitness and recreational sports centers in Virginia growing?
Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (13.1%), from 1,079 to 1,220. Across the United States the count changed by +13.8% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.
Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?
No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.
Read this before using the number
These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.