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Public universities
University of California, Penn State, University of Michigan
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers lead college courses on exercise, recreation, and fitness, while also advising students and, in many cases, doing research. The work stands out because it blends classroom teaching with academic scholarship in a field tied to movement and wellness. The tradeoff is that the job can be intellectually rewarding and reasonably paid, but it usually requires a doctorate and there are only modest growth prospects, so openings stay competitive.
Also known as Exercise Science InstructorKinesiology InstructorRecreation Studies ProfessorPhysical Education ProfessorHealth and Fitness Instructor
Median Salary
$75,890
Mean $87,980
U.S. Workforce
~13K
1.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.4%
15.4K to 15.7K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education 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 ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $75,890 and roughly 1.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 15.4 K in 2024 to 15.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral or professional degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant or Adjunct Instructor and can progress toward Professor or Program Chair. High-value skills usually include Teaching & Presentation Techniques, Student Advising & Coaching Techniques, and Blackboard, Canvas & LMS Platforms, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Instructing.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose courses, track their academic progress, and think through career options.
- Lead classes, discussions, and other teaching sessions on recreation, exercise, and fitness topics.
- Create reading lists and other study materials for assignments outside of class.
- Write, give, or coordinate quizzes and exams, then grade student work and papers.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose courses, track their academic progress, and think through career options.
02 Lead classes, discussions, and other teaching sessions on recreation, exercise, and fitness topics.
03 Create reading lists and other study materials for assignments outside of class.
04 Write, give, or coordinate quizzes and exams, then grade student work and papers.
05 Meet with students during office hours to answer questions, give feedback, and provide guidance.
06 Stay current on new research in the field and publish findings when the job includes scholarship.
Industries That Hire
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Community colleges
Houston Community College, Miami Dade College, Santa Monica College
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Private universities
Stanford University, Duke University, Boston University
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Online universities and continuing education
Southern New Hampshire University, Arizona State University, Western Governors University
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Health and sport science programs
University of Florida, Texas A&M University, University of North Carolina
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for higher education, with a median annual wage of $75,890 and a mean of $87,980.
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You get to teach material that is practical and easy for students to connect to real life, not just abstract theory.
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The work mixes classroom teaching with advising, research, and program development, so the job rarely feels repetitive.
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There are about 1.1K annual openings, so jobs do open up even in a small occupation.
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No on-the-job training is expected once you are hired, which means the main hurdle is getting the right degree rather than learning the basics after the fact.
Challenges
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The occupation is growing only 2.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than many people would like and signals limited expansion.
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A doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry requirement, so the upfront time and tuition cost are high.
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There are only about 12,680 workers in the occupation, so the market is small and openings can be highly competitive.
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A lot of the pressure falls on teaching plus research, so good classroom performance alone may not be enough for advancement.
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Some faculty jobs are adjunct or contract-based, which can mean less job security and uneven schedules even when the overall salary data looks decent.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant or Adjunct Instructor
0-2 years
$40K-$56K
Teaches sections, helps with grading, and builds classroom experience while often finishing graduate study.
Instructor or Assistant Professor
2-5 years
$57K-$69K
Runs courses more independently, meets with students regularly, and starts building a record of teaching and scholarship.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$70K-$92K
Balances teaching, advising, and sometimes research, with the salary band centered on the role's median pay.
Associate Professor
10-15 years
$93K-$120K
Takes on heavier course loads, mentors junior faculty, and may lead more serious research or program work.
Professor or Program Chair
15+ years
$121K-$155K
Leads curriculum decisions, supervises faculty or programs, and often carries the strongest research or service responsibilities.
Education Paths
Doctoral or professional degree
The most common entry point, held by 74.16% of workers in this role.
Master's degree
A strong alternative path, held by 20.8% of workers in this role, especially for faculty focused more on teaching than research.
Bachelor's degree plus substantial graduate study
A smaller route, held by 5.04% of workers in this role, but many people still need advanced study or teaching experience to compete.
Graduate certificate in college teaching or a related credential
A useful add-on for people who already have a degree and want to strengthen classroom skills, especially for adjunct or teaching-focused positions.
Key Skills
Technical
Teaching & Presentation Techniques 82%
Student Advising & Coaching Techniques 82%
Blackboard, Canvas & LMS Platforms 80%
Curriculum Design & Lesson Planning 80%
Academic Assessment, Rubrics & Grading Systems 80%
Research Methods, SPSS & Academic Publishing 78%
Exercise Science, Kinesiology & Lab Demonstrations 78%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningInstructingWritingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision-Making Job Outlook and Trends
+2.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 15.4K to 15.7 K over the next decade, representing 2.4% growth. Around 1.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.