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.
Exercise Physiologists
SOC: 29-1128 O*NET: 29-1128.00
Median Salary
$58,160
per year
Job Growth
🚀 9.5%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
1.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4
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.
What does a Exercise Physiologists do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$40,930
10th percentile
Early Career
$48,650
25th percentile
Median
$58,160
50th percentile
Experienced
$65,430
75th percentile
Top Earners
$79,830
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$40,930
25th
$48,650
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$58,160
Mean: $59,620
75th
$65,430
90th
$79,830
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $38,900 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $48,650 and $65,430
- •Salary spread is 28.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 8,110 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:23,900
Top Industries
Hospitals51.9%
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals50.1%
Ambulatory Health Care Services28.9%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+9.5%
Annual Openings:1,700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)23,900
Current
2034 (Projected)26,100
+9.5%
+2,300
Employment Change
+9.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Exercise Physiologists professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 42 locations
Texas
900 jobs$53,8501.23x
Florida
750 jobs$62,5701.44x
Michigan
530 jobs$53,1502.31x
Ohio
390 jobs$53,6601.32x
Pennsylvania
350 jobs$58,8901.11x
North Carolina
350 jobs$50,5601.35x
Illinois
310 jobs$61,2700.98x
Colorado
290 jobs$61,0601.92x
Wisconsin
290 jobs$60,8901.91x
New York
240 jobs$73,2500.48x
Utah
210 jobs$33,5402.33x
Tennessee
200 jobs$51,5601.19x
Virginia
190 jobs$59,3900.90x
Georgia
190 jobs$52,8800.74x
Indiana
170 jobs$61,0801.02x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Instructing
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Writing
66%
#7
Social Perceptiveness
60%
#8
Monitoring
54%
#9
Service Orientation
46%
#10
Judgment and Decision Making
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Instructing
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Writing
intermediate3.3
66%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.0
60%
Monitoring
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Instructing
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Monitoring
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Dietetic Technicians100%
5 shared skills
Occupational Therapists100%
5 shared skills
Registered Nurses82%
5 shared skills
Physician Assistants82%
5 shared skills
Animal Control Workers82%
5 shared skills
Athletic Trainers82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Instructing
Learn on the Job:
- →Writing
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Monitoring
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Instructing
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Exercise Physiologists
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMEDITECH software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
MEDITECH software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (10)Operations & Execution (3)Planning & Development (3)Analysis & Evaluation (3)Training & Development (2)
1
Conduct stress tests, using electrocardiograph (EKG) machines.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution97% perform98%
3
Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation88% perform92%
6
Measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Measure oxygen consumption or lung functioning, using spirometers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Perform routine laboratory tests of blood samples for cholesterol level or glucose tolerance.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution79% perform86%
9
Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment, such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Exercise Physiologists
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Exercise Physiologists professionals typically have a RIS Holland code and highly value relationships
RRealistic
IInvestigative
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Exercise Physiologists
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.73
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.68
Concern for Others
CriticalConcern for Others
Importance Level4.55
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.32
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.32
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.23
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.7
Integrity
4.7
Concern for Others
4.5
Self-Control
4.3
Cooperation
4.3
Attention to Detail
4.2
Social Orientation
4.2
Initiative
4.0
Achievement/Effort
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.9
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 4
Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree or higher
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training:
Significant preparation with related work experience
💼 Experience Requirement
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Bachelor's degree in related field
- • Several years of work experience
- • Professional certifications often required
4
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Bachelor's degree in related fieldSeveral years of work experienceProfessional certifications often required
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