Exercise Physiologists: salary, outlook & degrees

Assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.

U.S. median wage
$59,460

Middle half $49,620–$67,230. 8,560 jobs.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Ages 25-34 in this job
—

Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation

Outlook, 2025-35
+12.8%

About 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.

BLS Employment Projections 2025-35

Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).

BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone

Pay by state and metro

StateMedian wage
Washington$81,310
Oregon$71,630
Minnesota$67,230
Massachusetts$65,950
New Jersey$64,680
Colorado$63,800
New Hampshire$63,590
Wisconsin$63,210
Connecticut$62,510
California$62,440
Arizona$62,350
Maryland$62,220
Wyoming$62,070
Illinois$60,130
Florida$60,100
New York$59,940
Kansas$59,090
Georgia$58,170
Delaware$57,940
Texas$56,780
Idaho$56,750
Iowa$56,640
Nevada$55,240
Michigan$55,080
Tennessee$53,570
Missouri$52,570
Louisiana$52,450
North Carolina$52,450
Virginia$52,400
Ohio$51,660
South Dakota$51,630
Kentucky$51,070
Alabama$50,820
North Dakota$50,430
West Virginia$50,270
Indiana$49,740
Oklahoma$49,190
Arkansas$48,850
Pennsylvania$48,040
South Carolina$46,550
Utah$43,850
Mississippi$43,060

Largest metro areas for this job

  • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD$49,260
  • New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ$61,380
  • Denver-Aurora-Centennial CO$72,760
  • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN$63,570
  • Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MI$55,700
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI$68,560
  • Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ$66,210
  • Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood IN$48,220
  • Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH$64,170
  • Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX$58,580
  • Pittsburgh PA$42,240
  • Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell GA$60,360

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.

What the work takes

Top skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking

Knowledge used

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Biology
  • Education and Training

Work styles

  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Social Orientation
  • Achievement Orientation

People in this job tend to have Realistic (hands-on), Investigative (analytical), Social (helping) interests.

O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.

Exercise Physiologists: questions

How much do exercise Physiologists make?

Exercise Physiologists earn a U.S. median $59,460 a year; the middle half earn $49,620 to $67,230 (BLS, May 2025).

Is exercise Physiologists a growing field?

BLS projects growth of 12.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.

What degree do you need to be an exercise Physiologist?

BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree.

How much do exercise Physiologists make in Florida?

The median in Florida is $60,100 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $59,460 nationally.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 29-1128. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Exercise Physiologists: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/exercise-physiologists.