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Exercise Physiologist

$58,160
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Design and monitor exercise programs to help patients improve heart health and recover from illness.

Where you work

Clinics, hospitals, and fitness centers

The hours

Full time, some evenings

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$58,160
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,700
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+10%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
23,900
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's in exercise science.

License or certification

No state license in most places; professional certification can help.

What it takes

Exercise sciencePatient assessmentCommunicationMonitoring

The honest take

Designs exercise programs to help patients recover from or manage chronic conditions.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1128. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.