Healthcare · Career brief

Exercise Physiologists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Exercise Physiologists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$59,460

Middle-of-the-pack pay

2025 national median. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

12.8%

Strong projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

1,400

Relatively fewer openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory…

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (21,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (21,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Dietitians and Nutritionists Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians Recreational Therapists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Exercise Physiologists with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$59,460

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

12.8%employment growth1,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

21,200

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Exercise physiologists (29-1128).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment, such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (21,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.4
Getting Information4.4
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.2
Documenting/Recording Information4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.3
Investigative4.9
Social4.7
Conventional3.8
Enterprising3.0
Artistic1.5

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Medicine and Dentistry Therapy and Counseling Biology Psychology

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Exercise physiologists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options