Median Salary
$59,460
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$80,560
entry level starts ~$42,760
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 9,000 employed
How much does an Exercise Physiologist make?
Exercise Physiologists in the United States bring home a median salary of $59,460 a year, or around $28.59 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $42,760, while the top 10% earn $80,560.
That is $1,930 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Exercise Physiologist salary range by percentile
Half of all Exercise Physiologists earn between $49,620 and $67,230 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,760 | $20.56 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,620 | $23.86 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,460 | $28.59 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,560 | $38.73 |
|
Highest-paying states for Exercise Physiologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Exercise Physiologist pay at $81,310 a year, followed by Oregon ($71,630) and Minnesota ($67,230). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $43,060 — a gap of $38,250 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Exercise Physiologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 42 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $81,310Oregon $71,630Minnesota $67,230Massachusetts $65,950New Jersey $64,680Colorado $63,800New Hampshire $63,590Wisconsin $63,210Connecticut $62,510California $62,440Arizona $62,350Maryland $62,220Wyoming $62,070Illinois $60,130Florida $60,100New York $59,940Kansas $59,090Georgia $58,170Delaware $57,940Texas $56,780Idaho $56,750Iowa $56,640Nevada $55,240Michigan $55,080Tennessee $53,570Missouri $52,570Louisiana $52,450North Carolina $52,450Virginia $52,400Ohio $51,660South Dakota $51,630Kentucky $51,070Alabama $50,820North Dakota $50,430West Virginia $50,270Indiana $49,740Oklahoma $49,190Arkansas $48,850Pennsylvania $48,040South Carolina $46,550Utah $43,850Mississippi $43,060
Workforce and education
About 9,000 people work as Exercise Physiologists in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Exercise Physiologist make in the United States?
The median Exercise Physiologist salary in the United States is $59,460 per year, or about $28.59 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $42,760, while the top 10% of earners make $80,560 or more.
How does Exercise Physiologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Exercise Physiologist median of $59,460 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Exercise Physiologists the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Exercise Physiologists, with a median salary of $81,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Exercise Physiologist?
Becoming an Exercise Physiologist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Exercise Physiologists work in the United States?
About 9,000 people were employed as Exercise Physiologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.