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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $58,160 in the US and is projected to grow 10% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.39 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Instructing.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £43,532 a year for Physiotherapists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £35,953 to £50,694 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2221). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Exercise physiologists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
- Sports Science — B.Sc Sports Science or Sports and Exercise Science (three or four years)
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Education and Training
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Biology
- Psychology
- Administrative
A day in the life
You start the morning at the clinic, reviewing notes on today's patients, many recovering from heart problems or managing long-term conditions. Your first patient does a fitness test on a treadmill while you watch their heart rate, blood pressure and breathing closely. Based on the results you design an exercise programme to build their strength and endurance safely. Mid-morning you lead a small group session, demonstrating how to use the exercise bikes and weights correctly and keeping an eye out for anyone showing signs of distress. After lunch you analyse data from recent sessions, checking how each patient is progressing and adjusting their programmes. You also talk with a patient about ways to move more in daily life, such as walking or gardening. Later you write reports for the referring doctors. Paperwork and cautious progress can feel slow. But seeing a patient who could barely walk become fit and confident again is deeply rewarding.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Exercise physiologists do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Exercise physiologists?
You start the morning at the clinic, reviewing notes on today's patients, many recovering from heart problems or managing long-term conditions. Your first patient does a fitness test on a treadmill while you watch their heart rate, blood pressure and breathing closely. Based on the results you design an exercise programme to build their strength and endurance safely.
How much does Exercise physiologists earn?
The median annual salary for Exercise physiologists in the US is $58,160.
What is the job outlook for Exercise physiologists?
The role is projected to grow 10% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 23,900 workers.
How do I become exercise physiologists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Exercise physiologists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Instructing, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Exercise physiologists?
Our AI-durability model gives Exercise physiologists a score of 0.39 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Exercise physiologists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.