SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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. Excludes “Physical Therapists” (29-1123), “Athletic Trainers” (29-9091), and “Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors” (39-9031).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 29-1128.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $42,760 | $3,563 | $822 | $20.56 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $49,620 | $4,135 | $954 | $23.86 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $59,460 | $4,955 | $1,143 | $28.59 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $67,230 | $5,602 | $1,293 | $32.32 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $80,560 | $6,713 | $1,549 | $38.73 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Exercise Physiologists is $59,460, which is 17% higher. Among the 71 occupations of the field Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks number 62 by median pay. With 8,560 jobs, it makes up about 0.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Exercise Physiologists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($81,310), Oregon ($71,630) and Minnesota ($67,230). The lowest was in Mississippi ($43,060), Utah ($43,850) and South Carolina ($46,550). The most jobs were in California (640), Pennsylvania (640) and Michigan (570). The occupation is most concentrated in Delaware, where its share of all jobs is 3.5 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 160 | $81,310 | $81,870 | $39.09 |
| Oregon | 80 | $71,630 | $71,030 | $34.44 |
| Minnesota | 250 | $67,230 | $72,750 | $32.32 |
| Massachusetts | 180 | $65,950 | $72,210 | $31.71 |
| New Jersey | 130 | $64,680 | $67,870 | $31.10 |
| Colorado | 370 | $63,800 | $63,230 | $30.67 |
| New Hampshire | 50 | $63,590 | $65,490 | $30.57 |
| Wisconsin | 340 | $63,210 | $65,570 | $30.39 |
| Connecticut | 100 | $62,510 | $63,140 | $30.05 |
| California | 640 | $62,440 | $69,250 | $30.02 |
| Arizona | 220 | $62,350 | $66,200 | $29.98 |
| Maryland | 90 | $62,220 | $63,100 | $29.92 |
| Wyoming | not published | $62,070 | $71,380 | $29.84 |
| Illinois | 300 | $60,130 | $65,960 | $28.91 |
| Florida | 330 | $60,100 | $62,340 | $28.89 |
| New York | 360 | $59,940 | $71,360 | $28.82 |
| Kansas | 60 | $59,090 | $57,900 | $28.41 |
| Georgia | 210 | $58,170 | $63,520 | $27.97 |
| Delaware | 90 | $57,940 | $59,250 | $27.85 |
| Texas | 520 | $56,780 | $57,340 | $27.30 |
| Idaho | 40 | $56,750 | $58,750 | $27.29 |
| Iowa | 50 | $56,640 | $60,200 | $27.23 |
| Nevada | not published | $55,240 | $57,640 | $26.56 |
| Michigan | 570 | $55,080 | $56,820 | $26.48 |
| Tennessee | 140 | $53,570 | $56,660 | $25.75 |
| Missouri | 160 | $52,570 | $55,370 | $25.27 |
| Louisiana | 40 | $52,450 | $56,020 | $25.22 |
| North Carolina | 370 | $52,450 | $56,850 | $25.22 |
| Virginia | 240 | $52,400 | $59,230 | $25.19 |
| Ohio | 340 | $51,660 | $57,030 | $24.84 |
| South Dakota | 30 | $51,630 | $57,010 | $24.82 |
| Kentucky | 60 | $51,070 | $53,410 | $24.55 |
| Alabama | 70 | $50,820 | $54,400 | $24.43 |
| North Dakota | 50 | $50,430 | $52,770 | $24.24 |
| West Virginia | 60 | $50,270 | $56,420 | $24.17 |
| Indiana | 310 | $49,740 | $54,440 | $23.92 |
| Oklahoma | 80 | $49,190 | $49,640 | $23.65 |
| Arkansas | 40 | $48,850 | $52,780 | $23.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 640 | $48,040 | $51,910 | $23.10 |
| South Carolina | 230 | $46,550 | $47,810 | $22.38 |
| Utah | 220 | $43,850 | $47,440 | $21.08 |
| Mississippi | 30 | $43,060 | $51,100 | $20.70 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Athletic Trainers$62,520 a year
- Recreational Therapists$61,960 a year
- Paramedics$60,600 a year
- Medical Records Specialists$51,140 a year
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$50,290 a year
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,380 a year
Common questions
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $59,460 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,760 and the highest-paid 10% more than $80,560.
How many people work as Exercise Physiologists?
About 8,560 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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