Key Takeaways
- Exercise physiologists help people get fit and improve their health through personalized exercise programs.
- The salary of an exercise physiologist depends on factors like work setting, location, experience, and certifications.
- Exercise physiologists can work in hospitals, clinics, corporate wellness programs, private practice, or with athletes.
- The average annual salary for exercise physiologists in the U.S. ranges from around $48,000 to $69,000.
Exercise physiologists are experts on how the body responds to exercise. Their job is to help people get fit and improve their health through customized exercise programs. Knowing the exercise physiologist’s salary and pay scale is important if you want a job in the health and fitness field.
The exercise physiologist pay scale can vary significantly depending on where you work and how much experience you have. This article will explain the different salaries exercise physiologists can earn. You’ll get a clear picture of how much you could make and what factors influence the exercise physiologist pay scale the most. With this info, you can decide if being an exercise physiologist is the right, high-paying career for you.
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Factors Influencing Exercise Physiologist Salaries
Setting / Location
Where you work as an exercise physiologist makes a big difference in your salary. If you work at a hospital or clinic, your exercise physiology income levels will likely be in the middle range. Corporations employ them for employee wellness programs. They tend to earn higher pay for exercise physiologists. Exercise physiologists’ highest earnings usually come from having their own practice.
Region / State
Your location also matters for an exercise physiologist’s salary. The exercise physiologist’s salary by state varies due to differences in living costs. For example, exercise physiologists in New York and California cities earn more. This is compared to those in cheaper states, like Oklahoma. An entry-level starting salary for exercise physiologists in an affordable Midwest area could be about $40,000 a year. But the same job in San Francisco may offer closer to $60,000 as a starting salary for exercise physiologists.
Experience
As you gain more experience, your exercise physiologist’s annual income can rise a lot. Very skilled exercise physiologists can earn over $100,000 per year. This is especially true in private practice roles. Having an advanced degree and special certifications helps raise your earning power.
National Average Salary Data
So what kind of money can you expect to make as an exercise physiologist across the United States? Let’s look at some national salary numbers and statistics from authoritative sources.
- According to the U.S. BLS, the average annual salary for exercise physiologists is $54,860.
- PayScale reports the average exercise physiologist salary in the U.S. as $51,046 per year.
- Salary.com reports “The average Exercise Physiologist salary in the United States is $58,800, but the range typically falls between $52,274 and $66,876.”
- Glassdoor reports an average yearly salary of $69k for exercise physiologists.
- Indeed’s report gives $48,019 as the average annual pay for exercise physiologists.
The U.S. BLS expects faster-than-average job growth of 10% for exercise physiologist positions over the next decade too. This positive outlook means more chances to advance your career. You can move into roles that pay more and into leadership positions later.
Earnings Potential of Exercise Physiologists in Corporate/Private Practice
The average numbers are helpful benchmarks. But, your pay can vary widely based on your job and workplace. Those in corporate wellness programs often get bonus pay or profit-sharing. This causes their total earnings to be higher than the typical salary.
The most money in this field comes from running your own private practice. Or, from working as an elite sports performance specialist. Self-employed exercise physiologists build a successful business. They can easily earn six-figure incomes over $100,000 per year from client fees and other revenue. Those working with pro athletes and entertainers often earn high six-figure pay too.
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The exercise physiologist pay scale ranges widely based on multiple factors. From entry-level hospital jobs to owning a thriving private practice, salaries can vary from $40,000 to over $100,000 annually. Your income depends on things like living costs, experience, certs, and if you work in healthcare, corporate wellness, or sports.
We’ve given you some useful insights into the various exercise physiologist salaries. As you research potential employers and pay in your area, you’ll see the earning potential. Exercise physiology is a rewarding field in health and fitness.
“The field of exercise physiology is a continually evolving exploration of how the human body responds and adapts to physical activity. For those with a passion for science and a desire to improve health and performance, it’s an incredibly rewarding career path.” – Priscilla Clarkson, Exercise Physiologist