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Healthcare

Exercise Physiologists

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Exercise Physiologists
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Median pay

$58,160
Median annual pay for Exercise Physiologists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

9.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

1,700
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

23,900
Estimated U.S. employment for Exercise Physiologists in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+2,300
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Exercise Physiologists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Monitoring

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Medicine and Dentistry
  3. 3Education and Training
  4. 4Therapy and Counseling
  5. 5English Language
  6. 6Biology

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Problem Sensitivity
  3. 3Deductive Reasoning
  4. 4Inductive Reasoning
  5. 5Oral Comprehension
  6. 6Speech Clarity

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Investigative
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Conventional
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Cooperation
  3. 3Attention to Detail
  4. 4Social Orientation
  5. 5Achievement Orientation
  6. 6Intellectual Curiosity

Work activities

  1. 1Assisting and Caring for Others
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  5. 5Documenting/Recording Information
  6. 6Performing General Physical Activities

Work context

  1. 1Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  2. 2Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  3. 3Contact With Others
  4. 4E-Mail
  5. 5Telephone Conversations
  6. 6Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Representative tasks

  • 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.
  • Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
  • Recommend methods to increase lifestyle physical activity.
  • 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.
  • Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
  • Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMEDITECH software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyEmail softwareWeb browser software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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