Exercise physiologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Mean (average) | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| 90th percentile | $80,560 | $38.73 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Exercise physiologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 42 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,820 | $40,540 | $76,910 | 70 | 0.56 |
| Arizona | $62,350 | $51,950 | $77,630 | 220 | 1.24 |
| Arkansas | $48,850 | $40,800 | $66,890 | 40 | 0.5 |
| California | $62,440 | $36,970 | $106,290 | 640 | 0.64 |
| Colorado | $63,800 | $45,210 | $75,350 | 370 | 2.36 |
| Connecticut | $62,510 | $46,570 | $81,740 | 100 | 1.03 |
| Delaware | $57,940 | $41,960 | $83,910 | 90 | 3.51 |
| Florida | $60,100 | $47,800 | $88,070 | 330 | 0.6 |
| Georgia | $58,170 | $44,980 | $80,510 | 210 | 0.77 |
| Idaho | $56,750 | $49,550 | $74,650 | 40 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $60,130 | $50,220 | $84,020 | 300 | 0.89 |
| Indiana | $49,740 | $34,060 | $71,130 | 310 | 1.76 |
| Iowa | $56,640 | $45,190 | $75,530 | 50 | 0.54 |
| Kansas | $59,090 | $49,830 | $73,550 | 60 | 0.72 |
| Kentucky | $51,070 | $45,960 | $64,810 | 60 | 0.51 |
| Louisiana | $52,450 | $40,410 | $81,330 | 40 | 0.38 |
| Maryland | $62,220 | $50,980 | $76,130 | 90 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | $65,950 | $60,060 | $97,370 | 180 | 0.9 |
| Michigan | $55,080 | $48,140 | $65,910 | 570 | 2.34 |
| Minnesota | $67,230 | $61,640 | $95,140 | 250 | 1.51 |
| Mississippi | $43,060 | $34,980 | $93,640 | 30 | 0.53 |
| Missouri | $52,570 | $46,700 | $69,260 | 160 | 1 |
| Nevada | $55,240 | $55,230 | $60,410 | ||
| New Hampshire | $63,590 | $51,630 | $79,050 | 50 | 1.32 |
| New Jersey | $64,680 | $55,620 | $79,290 | 130 | 0.53 |
| New York | $59,940 | $53,610 | $107,800 | 360 | 0.67 |
| North Carolina | $52,450 | $43,900 | $71,270 | 370 | 1.35 |
| North Dakota | $50,430 | $49,030 | $64,590 | 50 | 2 |
| Ohio | $51,660 | $44,310 | $71,560 | 340 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma | $49,190 | $43,240 | $57,830 | 80 | 0.88 |
| Oregon | $71,630 | $56,010 | $81,260 | 80 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,040 | $38,900 | $67,820 | 640 | 1.9 |
| South Carolina | $46,550 | $32,100 | $64,420 | 230 | 1.83 |
| South Dakota | $51,630 | $48,390 | $71,540 | 30 | 1.21 |
| Tennessee | $53,570 | $40,620 | $73,360 | 140 | 0.8 |
| Texas | $56,780 | $36,890 | $79,150 | 520 | 0.67 |
| Utah | $43,850 | $28,860 | $73,570 | 220 | 2.26 |
| Virginia | $52,400 | $43,800 | $90,110 | 240 | 1.07 |
| Washington | $81,310 | $65,830 | $97,620 | 160 | 0.79 |
| West Virginia | $50,270 | $47,290 | $75,400 | 60 | 1.54 |
| Wisconsin | $63,210 | $55,100 | $77,320 | 340 | 2.08 |
| Wyoming | $62,070 | $49,620 | $97,800 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for exercise physiologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 58.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for exercise physiologists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology CIP 26.0908
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology CIP 31.0505
- Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist CIP 51.2311
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
- Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
- Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
- Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
- Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals.
- Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
- Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment, such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
- Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Email software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.
Common job titles: Bariatric Weight Loss Counselor, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Practitioner, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Exercise Physiologist (Certified EP), Clinical Cardiac Exercise Physiologist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Clinical Exercise Specialist, Exercise Scientist, Exercise Specialist, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do exercise physiologists make?
The national median annual wage for exercise physiologists was $59,460 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,760 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $80,560. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do exercise physiologists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is exercise physiologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of exercise physiologists to change +12.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay exercise physiologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($81,310), Oregon ($71,630), Minnesota ($67,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.