29 Series · SOC 29-1128
Exercise Physiologists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $59,460
- Median / year
- $80,560
- Top 10% earn
- +9.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 8,560
- US workers
Exercise Physiologists earn a median of $59,460 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $59,460, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $42,760 (10th percentile) to $80,560 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,560 US workers. Washington pays the most ($81,310), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Exercise Physiologists earn a median of $59,460, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 47% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #62 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 9.5% by 2033.
- $59,460
- Median annual wage
- Top 53%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #62 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $81,310. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128) pays a national median of $59,460 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $80,560 at the 90th, with a mean of $60,940 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,560 Americans work in this occupation across 42 reporting states and 55 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +9.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $81,310, which is +37% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $84,300 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$59,460
per year
Median Hourly
$28.59/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$60,940
average
Employment
8,560
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Exercise Physiologists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$59,460 Bottom 47% higher than 47% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Exercise Physiologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Exercise Physiologists sits on the faster-growing side at +9.5% growth and $59,460 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+9.5%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
1,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Exercise Physiologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals.
- ▸ Assess physical performance requirements to aid in the development of individualized recovery or rehabilitation exercise programs.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$42,760
25th Percentile
$49,620
Median
$59,460
75th Percentile
$67,230
90th Percentile
$80,560
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 42 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $81,310 | +37% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $71,630 | +20% above national |
| 3 | Minnesota | $67,230 | +13% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $65,950 | +11% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $64,680 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $63,800 | +7% above national |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $63,590 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $63,210 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $62,510 | +5% above national |
| 10 | California | $62,440 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Arizona | $62,350 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $62,220 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Wyoming | $62,070 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Illinois | $60,130 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Florida | $60,100 | +1% above national |
| 16 | New York | $59,940 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Kansas | $59,090 | 1% below national |
| 18 | Georgia | $58,170 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Delaware | $57,940 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Texas | $56,780 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Idaho | $56,750 | 5% below national |
| 22 | Iowa | $56,640 | 5% below national |
| 23 | Nevada | $55,240 | 7% below national |
| 24 | Michigan | $55,080 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Tennessee | $53,570 | 10% below national |
| 26 | Missouri | $52,570 | 12% below national |
| 27 | Louisiana | $52,450 | 12% below national |
| 28 | North Carolina | $52,450 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Virginia | $52,400 | 12% below national |
| 30 | Ohio | $51,660 | 13% below national |
| 31 | South Dakota | $51,630 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Kentucky | $51,070 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Alabama | $50,820 | 15% below national |
| 34 | North Dakota | $50,430 | 15% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $50,270 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $49,740 | 16% below national |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $49,190 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Arkansas | $48,850 | 18% below national |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $48,040 | 19% below national |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,550 | 22% below national |
| 41 | Utah | $43,850 | 26% below national |
| 42 | Mississippi | $43,060 | 28% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 55 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,300 | +42% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,840 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $74,380 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $72,760 | +22% above national |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $68,560 | +15% above national |
| 6 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $66,210 | +11% above national |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $66,100 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $66,060 | +11% above national |
| 9 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $64,610 | +9% above national |
| 10 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,170 | +8% above national |
| 11 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $63,960 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $63,840 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,730 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,570 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,480 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,680 | +5% above national |
| 17 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $62,670 | +5% above national |
| 18 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,440 | +5% above national |
| 19 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $62,200 | +5% above national |
| 20 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,640 | +4% above national |
| 21 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $61,600 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,510 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $61,430 | +3% above national |
| 24 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,380 | +3% above national |
| 25 | Ogden, UT | $61,170 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $60,360 | +2% above national |
| 27 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $60,050 | +1% above national |
| 28 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $59,650 | same as national |
| 29 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $58,770 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,580 | 1% below national |
| 31 | Jacksonville, FL | $58,520 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $58,400 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $58,260 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $57,640 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,590 | 3% below national |
| 36 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $55,770 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $55,700 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $55,230 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Wilmington, NC | $55,200 | 7% below national |
| 40 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $53,480 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,250 | 10% below national |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $52,950 | 11% below national |
| 43 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,950 | 11% below national |
| 44 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $51,810 | 13% below national |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $51,230 | 14% below national |
| 46 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,470 | 15% below national |
| 47 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,230 | 16% below national |
| 48 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $50,140 | 16% below national |
| 49 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,260 | 17% below national |
| 50 | Columbia, SC | $48,800 | 18% below national |
| 51 | Akron, OH | $48,710 | 18% below national |
| 52 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,220 | 19% below national |
| 53 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,830 | 23% below national |
| 54 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,240 | 29% below national |
| 55 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $28,860 | 51% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Exercise Physiologists make? ▼
What state pays Exercise Physiologists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Exercise Physiologists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Exercise Physiologists? ▼
Is Exercise Physiologists a good career? ▼
How does Exercise Physiologists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Exercise Physiologists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Exercise Physiologists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $67,230/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $81,310/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.