The Pay Scale for a Person with a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology
Exercise physiologists help improve human performance and health through the exercise and activity plans they develop. They are similar to physical therapists but differ in that they do not diagnose or directly treat injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places exercise physiologists in the broader category of "all other therapists," a group that excludes physical therapists, athletic trainers and aerobics and fitness instructors. Salaries for exercise physiologists vary by employer and location.
Other People Are Reading
-
Required Education
-
Exercise physiologists are typically required to have a bachelor's degree in a field such as exercise science or kinesiology to gain entry-level employment in this field. They work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, physicians' offices and colleges. In some settings a master's degree will be required for employment. In other cases, a master's degree may not necessarily be required, but it can lead to greater levels of pay within the industry. Therefore, exercise physiologists holding a master of science degree in exercise physiology can expect to make salaries closer to the upper end of the pay scale.
Starting Pay
-
The American College of Sports Medicine estimates that entry-level exercise physiologists can expect to make salaries that range from $18,000 to $30,000 per year. This figure applies to those with a bachelor's degree and no other prior experience in the field. The academy does note, however, that predicting the starting salary for those who work in this field is a broad guess at best because too many factors go into determining the salary for an exercise physiologist. Geography, certification, licensure and even market demand all determine how much a physiologist will be paid.
-
Pay Scale
-
Those holding a master's degree are likely to have two primary advantages over an entry-level physiologist. These advantages should bring greater levels of pay. The first is the advantage of having additional specialized knowledge in the field, and the second is the possible benefit of experience since some exercise physiologists work in the field before going on to pursue a master's degree. Exercise physiologists earned an average salary of $51,980 per year in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries in this field typically ranged from $28,970 to $80,930 per year in 2010. The median salary for exercise physiologists was $47,950. Those holding a master's degree are likely to make above this figure although exceptions to the rule can exist. Those in the upper 25 percent of the pay scale made in excess of $64,090.
Employers
-
The setting in which an exercise physiologist works can also play a role in determining his pay. According to the BLS, those working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned an average salary of $52,930 per year in 2010 while those employed in the offices of other health care practitioners made only $44,700 per year, on average. Those working for state governments made $57,880 while the highest-paid professionals in this field were employed by the federal government and earned an average of $68,860 annually.
-
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Exercise Physiologists
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: 29-1128 Therapists, All Other
- O*NET Online: Keyword Relevance for: physiologist
- O*NET Online: Summary Report for: 29-1129.00 - Therapists, All Other
- American Academy of Sports Medicine: Careers in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science
Resources
- Photo Credit Liquidlibrary/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
