Exercise Physiologist salary in the U.S.
Exercise Physiologists in the U.S. earn a median of $59,460 a year ($28.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,560 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $60,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for exercise physiologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| 25th percentile | $49,620 | $23.86 |
| Median | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| 75th percentile | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,560 | $38.73 |
| Average (mean) | $60,940 | $29.30 |
Half of exercise physiologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,955 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,477.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,286.92 |
| Weekly | $1,143.46 |
| Hourly | $28.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Exercise Physiologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $81,310 | 160 |
| Oregon | $71,630 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $67,230 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $65,950 | 180 |
| New Jersey | $64,680 | 130 |
| Colorado | $63,800 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $63,590 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $63,210 | 340 |
| Connecticut | $62,510 | 100 |
| California | $62,440 | 640 |
| Arizona | $62,350 | 220 |
| Maryland | $62,220 | 90 |
| Wyoming | $62,070 | n/a |
| Illinois | $60,130 | 300 |
| Florida | $60,100 | 330 |
| New York | $59,940 | 360 |
| Kansas | $59,090 | 60 |
| Georgia | $58,170 | 210 |
| Delaware | $57,940 | 90 |
| Texas | $56,780 | 520 |
| Idaho | $56,750 | 40 |
| Iowa | $56,640 | 50 |
| Nevada | $55,240 | n/a |
| Michigan | $55,080 | 570 |
| Tennessee | $53,570 | 140 |
| Missouri | $52,570 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $52,450 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $52,450 | 370 |
| Virginia | $52,400 | 240 |
| Ohio | $51,660 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $51,630 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $51,070 | 60 |
| Alabama | $50,820 | 70 |
| North Dakota | $50,430 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $50,270 | 60 |
| Indiana | $49,740 | 310 |
| Oklahoma | $49,190 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $48,850 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,040 | 640 |
| South Carolina | $46,550 | 230 |
| Utah | $43,850 | 220 |
| Mississippi | $43,060 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for exercise physiologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,300 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,840 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $74,380 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $72,760 | 260 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $68,560 | 180 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $66,210 | 180 |
| Madison, WI | $66,100 | 50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $66,060 | 30 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $64,610 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,170 | 150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $63,960 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,840 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,730 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,570 | 220 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,480 | 90 |
Metro areas with the most exercise physiologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 370 | $49,260 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 330 | $61,380 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 260 | $72,760 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 220 | $63,570 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 220 | $55,700 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 180 | $68,560 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 180 | $66,210 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 160 | $48,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 150 | $64,170 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 130 | $58,580 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 130 | $42,240 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 120 | $60,360 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 120 | $57,590 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 120 | $28,860 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 110 | $53,250 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1128. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a exercise physiologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for exercise physiologists in the U.S. is $59,460 a year, or $28.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid exercise physiologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of exercise physiologists in the U.S. earn at least $80,560 a year. The top 25% earn $67,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for exercise physiologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,760 a year, and a quarter of exercise physiologists earn $49,620 or less.
How many exercise physiologists work in the U.S.?
About 8,560 exercise physiologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.