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Beauty, Fitness & Personal Care career
Exercise Physiologist
Also called: Clinical Exercise Physiologist · Cardiac Rehab Specialist · Exercise Specialist · Wellness Specialist
What exercise physiologists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an exercise physiologist do?
Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help patients recover from chronic diseases and improve cardiovascular function, body composition and flexibility. The median pay is $59,460 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years, and employment is projected to grow +12.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$59,460$28.59/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+12.8%2025–35, much faster than average
- Openings per year1,400Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train4 yearsTypical program length
- U.S. jobs21,200Employment, 2025
What exercise physiologists do
Exercise physiologists use exercise as medicine. They run fitness and stress tests, analyze results, design exercise programs for people with heart disease, diabetes, obesity or lung disease, and monitor patients during cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Others work in corporate wellness, research and athletic performance.
Most exercise physiologists have a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or physiology; clinical roles may require certification and sometimes a master’s degree. The field is growing as healthcare focuses on prevention.
Typical duties
- Conduct fitness and stress tests
- Analyze patient health data
- Design exercise programs for medical conditions
- Monitor patients during exercise
- Educate patients on lifestyle changes
- Track progress
- Work with physicians and healthcare teams
Work environment and schedule
Exercise physiologists work in hospitals, rehab centers, clinics, fitness centers and universities.
Schedule: Most work full-time weekday hours, with some early mornings.
A day in the life
- Prepare the cardiac rehab gym and review patient charts.
- Monitor heart rhythms of patients on treadmills.
- Conduct a graded exercise test.
- Teach a nutrition and exercise class.
See a full day in the life of an exercise physiologist →
Exercise Physiologist salary
Half of exercise physiologists earned more than $59,460 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $42,760 for the lowest 10% to $80,560 for the top 10%.
Full exercise physiologist pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an exercise physiologist
- Earn a bachelor’s degree
- Gain clinical experience
- Earn certification
- Get hired
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology or physiology is typical. Clinical positions often require certification and sometimes a master’s degree.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an exercise physiologist →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Exercise testing
- ECG monitoring
- Exercise prescription
- Physiology
- Patient education
People skills
- Communication
- Empathy
- Motivation
- Attention to detail
All exercise physiologist skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Help patients improve health
- Growing field
- Science-based work
- Regular hours in clinical settings
Cons
- Pay can be modest for the education
- Clinical roles may require advanced degrees
- Patients may have serious conditions
- Limited advancement in some settings
Certifications and licenses
- ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP): Certification for exercise physiologists.
- ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP): Advanced clinical certification.
- BLS or ACLS: Life support training.
- NSCA-CSCS: Strength and conditioning certification.
Career path
- Exercise Specialist: Lead exercise programs.
- Exercise Physiologist: Test and prescribe exercise.
- Clinical Exercise Physiologist: Work with complex patients.
- Rehab Program Manager: Lead rehabilitation programs.
Learn the job before day one
Our Exercise Physiologist training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as write an exercise prescription and monitor a cardiac rehab session, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Exercise Physiologist vs. Athletic Trainer · Exercise Physiologist vs. Personal Trainer · Exercise Physiologist vs. PT Assistant · Exercise Physiologist vs. Dietitian
Exercise Physiologist FAQ
Do exercise physiologists need a master’s?
Not always, but clinical roles may prefer one.
What’s the difference from a personal trainer?
Exercise physiologists work with clinical populations and need degrees.
Where do they work?
Hospitals, rehab centers, clinics and wellness programs.
How much does an exercise physiologist make?
The median annual wage for exercise physiologists was $59,460 ($28.59 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,760 and the highest 10% earned more than $80,560.
How long does it take to become an exercise physiologist?
Most people need about 4 years of training. A bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology or physiology is typical. Clinical positions often require certification and sometimes a master’s degree.
Do you need a degree to be an exercise physiologist?
Yes. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, and many clinical roles prefer a master’s degree and ACSM certification.
More exercise physiologist questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 29-1128 (Exercise physiologists).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Exercise physiologists (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.