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Hospitals & Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Exercise Physiologists
Exercise physiologists test how the body responds to movement and turn those results into safe, individualized exercise plans. The work often sits between coaching and clinical care: one client may be recovering from a heart condition while another is trying to improve athletic performance. The tradeoff is that the job is hands-on and evidence-based, but it depends on careful monitoring and usually pays less than many other healthcare careers.
Also known as Clinical Exercise PhysiologistCardiac Exercise PhysiologistExercise SpecialistExercise Science SpecialistCardiopulmonary Exercise Physiologist
Median Salary
$58,160
Mean $59,620
U.S. Workforce
~8K
1.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+9.5%
23.9K to 26.1K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Exercise Physiologists sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~8K workers, with a median annual pay of $58,160 and roughly 1.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 23.9 K in 2024 to 26.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Exercise Science Assistant and can progress toward Clinical Exercise Program Coordinator. High-value skills usually include Exercise Testing Protocols & Equipment Calibration, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) & VO2 Analysis, and Blood Pressure, ECG & Heart Rate Monitoring, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Instructing.
Core Responsibilities
- Check a client's fitness level, symptoms, and medical limits before starting an exercise plan.
- Set up treadmills, bikes, heart monitors, and other testing equipment, then make sure everything is working correctly.
- Show people how to use exercise machines safely and how to perform movements with good form.
- Build exercise programs that improve strength, endurance, flexibility, or circulation.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check a client's fitness level, symptoms, and medical limits before starting an exercise plan.
02 Set up treadmills, bikes, heart monitors, and other testing equipment, then make sure everything is working correctly.
03 Show people how to use exercise machines safely and how to perform movements with good form.
04 Build exercise programs that improve strength, endurance, flexibility, or circulation.
05 Teach athletes, patients, or coaches how to use heart-rate data, recover between workouts, stay hydrated, and avoid pushing too hard.
06 Review test results and progress notes, then update the program and record what changed.
Industries That Hire
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Outpatient Rehabilitation
Athletico Physical Therapy, Select Medical, ATI Physical Therapy
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Sports Performance & Training
EXOS, IMG Academy, Nike
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Higher Education & Research
University of Michigan, Ohio State University, University of Florida
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Corporate Wellness & Employee Health
Virgin Pulse, Wellhub, Optum
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree, and BLS lists no work experience or on-the-job training as required.
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The work is practical and measurable: you see how clients respond to testing, training, and recovery in real time.
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Pay is fairly solid for a bachelor's-level healthcare job, with a median of $58,160 and a mean of $59,620.
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Growth is above average at 9.5%, and there are about 1,700 openings a year, so new jobs do appear regularly.
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The work can be meaningful because you help people recover function, manage health limits, or improve performance safely.
Challenges
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The occupation is small, with only about 8,110 jobs now, so openings can be limited by geography.
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Pay is only moderate for a healthcare role that often requires specialized knowledge and close supervision of health conditions.
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Remote work is limited because most of the job depends on in-person testing, monitoring, and coaching.
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Career growth can hit a ceiling without a master's degree or a specialty credential, especially for higher-paying clinical roles.
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The work can be physically and emotionally demanding because you spend time watching symptoms, adjusting plans, and helping people who may be injured or medically fragile.
Career Progression
Exercise Science Assistant
0-2 years
$39K-$47K
Supports testing sessions, equipment setup, basic monitoring, and client coaching under supervision.
Exercise Physiologist
2-5 years
$52K-$65K
Independently evaluates clients, writes exercise plans, and adjusts programs based on test results and symptoms.
Senior Exercise Physiologist THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$66K-$80K
Handles more complex cases, mentors newer staff, and works closely with physicians, therapists, or performance coaches.
Clinical Exercise Program Coordinator
8-12 years
$81K-$95K
Leads a rehab or performance program, sets protocols, and oversees outcomes, staffing, and quality of care.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 59.09% of workers in this role.
Master's degree in exercise physiology or clinical exercise physiology
A frequent route for more specialized clinical work, held by 31.82% of workers.
Doctoral degree in exercise physiology, physiology, or a related health field
A smaller pathway, held by 9.09% of workers, often used for research, teaching, or advanced specialization.
Bachelor's degree plus a clinical exercise certification
A practical alternative for people who want to work in cardiac rehab or other clinical settings and can add a recognized credential such as ACSM-CEP.
Key Skills
Technical
Exercise Testing Protocols & Equipment Calibration 82%
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) & VO2 Analysis 81%
Blood Pressure, ECG & Heart Rate Monitoring 80%
Exercise Prescription & Rehabilitation Program Design 79%
Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner) 76%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingInstructingReading ComprehensionSpeakingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+9.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 23.9K to 26.1 K over the next decade, representing 9.5% growth. Around 1.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.