Depends. Unless you’re a Doctor, Attorney with a thriving practice (some other exceptions I’m sure) I would say yes, especially just coming out of college and even that, most are in debt up to their ass for the first what? 10, 20 years?
I was being facetious.
A smart and successful trainer might pull in 150K or so - and even then very few indeed make that consistently no matter what BS they say. Usually they take their best week and extrapolate that out over a year, failing to take into account holidays, sick time etc.
A smart and successful graduate has a much higher earnings potential and a career with longevity.
You're comparing the top 0.1% of trainers to the bottom tier of graduates, which is an unfair comparison.
Whilst a 21yr old trainer unencumbered by debt in an affluent city with good chat and hustle can make more than a lot of 21yr old grads, that advantage dissipates fast in most cases. Or do all the 40yr old trainers disappear because they've made enough cash to retire on?