# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-physiologists
- SOC code: 29-1128.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $59,460 (10th percentile $42,760, 90th percentile $80,560)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +12.8%
- Openings a year: 1,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 71 |
| Investigative (I) | 65 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 62 |
| Enterprising (E) | 33 |
| Conventional (C) | 46 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 92/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 79/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 78/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 78/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 77/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Instructing, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Biology, Education and Training, Psychology, Therapy and Counseling, Administrative, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Applied Exercise Physiologist, Bariatric Weight Loss Counselor, Cardiac Exercise Physiologist, Cardiac Exercise Specialist, Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Physiologist, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Practitioner, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Exercise Physiologist (Certified EP), Clinical Cardiac Exercise Physiologist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3105) (CIP 3105, 1,394 colleges)
- [Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5123) (CIP 5123, 591 colleges)
- [Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2609) (CIP 2609, 269 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Nova Southeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nova-southeastern-university-1975) | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | not reported | $122,809 | $12,500 |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $48,301 | $87,404 | not reported |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $40,920 | $87,254 | $12,250 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | not reported | $81,548 | not reported |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | not reported | $81,110 | $15,250 |
| [University of Scranton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-scranton-3036) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,531 | $79,700 | $27,000 |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $39,950 | $79,599 | $19,500 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,967 | $79,411 | $20,234 |

## Related careers

- [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Physical Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapists): $102,760 median pay
- [Physical Therapist Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-assistants): $68,380 median pay
- [Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/exercise-trainers-and-group-fitness-instructors): $47,160 median pay
- [Athletic Trainers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/athletic-trainers): $62,520 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.