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Exercise physiologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,460median pay per year, or $28.59 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,760lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,62025th percentile
  3. $59,460median
  4. $67,23075th percentile
  5. $80,560top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Exercise physiologists had a median pay of $59,460 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to grow 12.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+12.8%[2]
Openings per year
1,400[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do exercise physiologists make?

The median wage for Exercise Physiologists was $59,460 a year, or $28.59 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $60,940 a year, or $29.30 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. The median for this job was higher than that figure.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,760 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $80,560[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[3][9] $42,760 $20.56
25th[3][9] $49,620 $23.86
75th[3][9] $67,230 $32.32
90th[3][9] $80,560 $38.73

These wages cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. That matters here, because 58.9% of exercise physiologists were self-employed in 2025[11]. About 8,560 people held wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median wage at $81,310, followed by Oregon at $71,630 and Minnesota at $67,230[13]. Mississippi ($43,060) and Utah ($43,850) were at the bottom of the published list[13].

California and Pennsylvania each had 640 jobs[14], the most of any state. Michigan had 570 and Texas 520[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[15], Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $84,300[15], then Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $72,760 and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI at $68,560[15]. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington had the most jobs at 370, with a median of $49,260[16].

Show median pay in 42 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$81,310160
Oregon$71,63080
Minnesota$67,230250
Massachusetts$65,950180
New Jersey$64,680130
Colorado$63,800370
New Hampshire$63,59050
Wisconsin$63,210340
Connecticut$62,510100
California$62,440640
Arizona$62,350220
Maryland$62,22090
Wyoming$62,070n/a
Illinois$60,130300
Florida$60,100330
New York$59,940360
Kansas$59,09060
Georgia$58,170210
Delaware$57,94090
Texas$56,780520
Idaho$56,75040
Iowa$56,64050
Nevada$55,240n/a
Michigan$55,080570
Tennessee$53,570140
Missouri$52,570160
Louisiana$52,45040
North Carolina$52,450370
Virginia$52,400240
Ohio$51,660340
South Dakota$51,63030
Kentucky$51,07060
Alabama$50,82070
North Dakota$50,43050
West Virginia$50,27060
Indiana$49,740310
Oklahoma$49,19080
Arkansas$48,85040
Pennsylvania$48,040640
South Carolina$46,550230
Utah$43,850220
Mississippi$43,06030

How to become an exercise physiologist

BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6].

What exercise physiologists do

They assess, plan or carry out fitness programs that aim to improve things like heart and lung function, strength, endurance or flexibility[22]. Typical tasks include:

Skills that matter include communication, compassion, attention to detail and decision-making[24][25][26][27].

Where they work

Exercise physiologists typically work in office settings such as hospitals, other medical sites, fitness centers and schools. They may also travel to meet clients[28]. Some work in teams with other healthcare staff and may be on their feet a lot[29].

Self-employed workers made up 59% of employment in 2025, the largest group[30]. Most work full time, and part-time work may be common[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 12.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,200 to 23,900 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[32]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 1,400 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings also come from workers who retire or change occupations, not only from new jobs[5]. Each year 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 2.5% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The job calls for a bachelor's degree but no related experience[6]. Median pay was above the all-occupations median[1][4], and projected growth is faster than average[2][32]. Pay figures leave out the self-employed, who are most of the workforce, so the wage data may not describe them[10][11]. Related jobs include dietitians and nutritionists, with a median of $76,400, and athletic trainers, with a median of $62,520[34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an exercise physiologist make an hour?
The median was $28.59 an hour in May 2025 and the average was $29.30[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an exercise physiologist?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Fields include exercise physiology, exercise science and kinesiology[18].
Is exercise physiologist in demand?
BLS projects 12.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][32]. About 1,400 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for exercise physiologists?
Washington, with a median of $81,310, then Oregon at $71,630[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Exercise Physiologists in the US was $59,460 per year and $28.59 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Exercise Physiologists is projected to grow 12.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 21,200 to 23,900 jobs (a change of +2,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Exercise Physiologists: 10th percentile $42,760, 25th percentile $49,620, 75th percentile $67,230, 90th percentile $80,560. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Exercise Physiologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Exercise Physiologists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Exercise Physiologists was $60,940 per year and $29.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Exercise Physiologists: 10th percentile $20.56, 25th percentile $23.86, 75th percentile $32.32, 90th percentile $38.73. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 58.9% of Exercise Physiologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,560 people were employed as Exercise Physiologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Exercise Physiologists jobs: California 640; Pennsylvania 640; Michigan 570; Texas 520; Colorado 370. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Exercise Physiologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,300; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $72,760; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $68,560; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $66,210; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $64,170; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $63,570; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $61,380; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $60,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Exercise Physiologists jobs: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 370 (median $49,260); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 330 (median $61,380); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 260 (median $72,760); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 220 (median $63,570); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 220 (median $55,700); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 180 (median $68,560). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Exercise Physiologists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Exercise Physiologists. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of exercise physiologists in 2025: Self-employed workers 59%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Exercise Physiologists: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.