Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Recreation and Fitness Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring recreation and fitness professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $77,270), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Ph.D. in kinesiology where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for recreation and fitness professors
There are about 15,200 recreation and fitness professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 1,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.2% from 2025–35 (slower than average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $44,900–$59,990 | $21.59–$28.84 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $77,270 | $37.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,450 | $48.77 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $134,890 | $64.85 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Exercise physiology
- Energy
Nice-to-haves
- Ph.D. in kinesiology
- ACSM certification
- NSCA CSCS
- Experience with metabolic carts
Where to find recreation and fitness professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Kinesiology Professor, Exercise Science Professor, Physical Education Professor, Recreation Management Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “What lab experience do you have?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
3. “What courses can you teach?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
4. “How do you mentor?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “How do you run internships?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Run a VO2 Max Lab for Students (see the steps)
- Teach a Biomechanics Video Analysis (see the steps)
- Place Students in Fitness Internships (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Kinesiology, Exercise physiology, Biomechanics
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Recreation and Fitness Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Recreation and Fitness Professor training. Show them the path forward: Lab Instructor → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Chair.
Hiring recreation and fitness professors: FAQ
How much should I pay a recreation and fitness professor?
The U.S. median wage for recreation and fitness professors is $77,270 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($59,990), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($101,450). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a recreation and fitness professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in kinesiology and ACSM certification where relevant, plus skills such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, and fitness testing.
How long does it take to train a new recreation and fitness professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 6–8 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”