Exercise Physiologists Salary

The median exercise physiologists salary in the United States is $59,460 per year ($28.59/hour). Salaries range from $42,760 at the entry level to $80,560+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,560 exercise physiologists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 9.5% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asExercise Physiologist
Median Salary
$59,460
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.59
per hour
Employment
8,560
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$42,760
25th percentile
$49,620
Median
$59,460
75th percentile
$67,230
90th percentile
$80,560

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+9.5%
Faster than average

Annual Openings

1,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Exercise Physiologists Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for exercise physiologistss.

Exercise physiologists deliver exercise-based interventions for cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehab, cancer prehab/rehab, metabolic care, and performance labs. Entry EPs earn $42-58k; established ACSM-certified clinical exercise physiologists (CEP or RCEP) earn $58-82k; senior EPs at academic medical centers, sports medicine performance labs, or specialty programs earn $75-115k+; EPs with dual credentials (RCEP + ATC or PA/PT bridge) in high-end performance and clinical settings can reach $95-155k. The profession is smaller than PT/OT but with rising demand as cardiac rehab and preventive cardiology programs expand.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Exercise testing and prescription
Conduct maximal and submaximal graded exercise tests (Bruce, modified Bruce, ramp protocols) on treadmill or cycle. Interpret VO2 max, RER, HR/BP response, and ECG changes with the medical director.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
Deliver phase II/III cardiac rehab under supervising physician. Monitor telemetry, HR/BP/SpO2, and RPE. Handle post-MI, post-CABG, post-PCI, and heart-failure patients. Similar depth for pulmonary rehab with COPD, IPF, and post-transplant patients.
12-lead ECG interpretation
Recognize normal vs abnormal rhythms β€” atrial fibrillation, PVCs, ischemic ST changes, and complete blocks. Know when to stop a test and get the medical director.
Emergency response (BLS, ACLS)
Cardiac rehab is a code-rich environment. BLS mandatory; ACLS strongly preferred and required at most academic centers. Run mock codes regularly.
Body composition and metabolic testing
Bod Pod, DEXA, hydrostatic weighing, and RMR (indirect calorimetry). Growing niche in bariatric medicine and performance labs.
Patient education and behavior change
Teach exercise principles, disease-specific self-management, and lifestyle modification. Use motivational interviewing and health-behavior frameworks (Prochaska Stages of Change).
Documentation and outcome reporting
Chart per Medicare cardiac rehab requirements. Track functional improvements (6-minute walk, METs, QoL scores) for CMS quality reporting and program accreditation (AACVPR).

How to Become a Exercise Physiologists

  1. 1
    Get a BS in exercise science, kinesiology, or exercise physiology
    Programs at state universities. Some pathways from athletic training, physical therapy, or nursing enter EP work later in career.
  2. 2
    Complete an ACSM- or CAAHEP-accredited internship (300+ hours preferred)
    Cardiac rehab or clinical setting internships are the strongest rΓ©sumΓ© line. Many programs prefer candidates with hands-on hospital experience.
  3. 3
    Earn ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) or Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP)
    ACSM-EP is entry credential; ACSM-CEP is the clinical credential for cardiac rehab and hospital work. RCEP through NASPA is an alternative clinical registry.
  4. 4
    Take a first job in cardiac rehab, corporate wellness, or performance lab
    $42-58k. Cardiac rehab is the most common start and offers stable hospital-based employment. Performance labs pay slightly less but offer athletic and research exposure.
  5. 5
    Advance to Sr EP, Program Coordinator, or move into related credential (ATC, PA, DPT)
    $75-115k+. Sr EPs coordinate cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs; some pursue AACVPR-Certified Program Director credential. Others bridge to Physician Assistant or Doctor of Physical Therapy programs for expanded scope and higher pay ceiling.

Career Progression

Entry EP / New Graduate
0-2 yrs$42-58k
  • β€’Deliver phase II/III cardiac rehab under supervision
  • β€’Perform graded exercise tests with medical director support
  • β€’Complete ACSM-EP or ACSM-CEP within first 12 months
  • β€’Document per Medicare and program standards
Next: Established EP at 1-3 years.
Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP)
2-8 yrs$58-85k
  • β€’Independent test administration and rehab delivery
  • β€’Patient education and behavior-change counseling
  • β€’Coordinate with cardiologists and pulmonologists on care plans
  • β€’Contribute to AACVPR program accreditation
Next: Sr EP / Program Coordinator at 6-10 years.
Sr EP / Program Coordinator / Performance Lab Specialist
5-15 yrs$75-105k
  • β€’Coordinate cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs
  • β€’Own AACVPR accreditation and CMS quality reporting
  • β€’Train EPs and cross-train nurses/RTs
  • β€’Represent program at cardiovascular committee
Next: Program Director or Manager at 12-18 years.
Program Director / Manager of Cardiac Rehab / Specialty Clinical Lead
12+ yrs$95-155k+ (academic medical center directors $115-175k)
  • β€’Own department P&L
  • β€’Supervise 5-15 EP and RN staff
  • β€’Regulatory compliance (Joint Commission, AACVPR)
  • β€’Program marketing and referral management
Next: Director of Ambulatory Cardiology, Director of Wellness Services, or DrPH/PhD academic path.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through how you'd conduct a graded exercise test.technical
Pre-test screening (PAR-Q, med list, resting vitals, 12-lead ECG). Explain the test to the patient, calibrate the equipment. Bruce protocol most common for cardiac; modified Bruce or ramp for deconditioned. Monitor HR, BP, ECG, and symptoms continuously. Stop for angina, ST depression >2 mm, drop in systolic >10 mm Hg despite increasing workload, sustained arrhythmias, or patient request. Document per program protocol.
Q2. How do you handle a patient having an event during cardiac rehab?situational
Stop the exercise, sit the patient down, check vitals immediately. If chest pain with ECG changes, notify medical director on-site and initiate the emergency protocol. Nitro per orders if within scope, oxygen, and 911 if needed. Never leave the patient. Full incident documentation post-event. Debrief the team on what worked and what didn't.
Q3. Describe your ACLS scope of practice.technical
ACLS is a hospital-team framework, not an individual scope. As EP I initiate BLS/CPR, use the AED, and call the code. In ACLS-team-response settings I contribute chest compressions and ventilation. Advanced interventions (IV access, IO, meds, defib) are physician or RN scope unless my specific hospital has EPs credentialed for expanded roles.
Q4. How do you motivate a patient who's not engaged in rehab?behavioral
Ask what's actually getting in the way β€” often it's fear, family, or a specific goal they haven't shared. Motivational interviewing: elicit change talk, don't push. Set small measurable goals. Track progress visibly. Never shame; the exercise-adherence literature is clear that shame lowers adherence.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
ACSM-CEP with AACVPR-Certified Program Director credential, coordinating a cardiac and pulmonary rehab program. Long-term, either program director track or moving to PA or DPT school for expanded clinical scope. Both keep me in cardiovascular care but grow the pay and autonomy ceiling.

Resume Template β€” Clinical Exercise Physiologist (2-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Clinical Exercise Physiologist (2-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈACSM-CEP at 450-bed cardiac rehab program; deliver 22+ patient exercise sessions daily under medical director supervision.
  • β–ΈCompleted 380 graded exercise tests in FY24 with 100% documentation compliance for CMS.
  • β–ΈAACVPR-accredited program; contributed to 2024 recertification with zero findings.
  • β–Έ$68k base + benefits. ACLS + BLS current; ECG interpretation quality 96% match to cardiologist read.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—No ACSM-EP or CEP credential 12 months post-graduation.
  • βœ—Weak ECG interpretation β€” hospital cardiac rehab is not the place to learn this on the job.
  • βœ—Poor BLS/ACLS readiness β€” cardiac rehab has real emergencies.
  • βœ—Cannot document to Medicare and CMS quality reporting standards.
  • βœ—Weak communication with cardiologists and physicians.
  • βœ—History of adherence problems with patient scheduling and follow-up.
  • βœ—No plan for specialty credential or advanced degree past year 3-5.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“ACSM-CEP or RCEP credential worth 8-12% premium over uncertified EP.
  • βœ“AACVPR-Certified Program Director credential at leadership roles.
  • βœ“ACLS beyond BLS worth $2-5k at some cardiac rehab programs.
  • βœ“Signing bonus $2-8k common in short-staffed markets.
  • βœ“Continuing education budget ($1-2.5k/yr) plus paid ACSM annual meeting attendance.
  • βœ“Tuition reimbursement for DPT, PA, or MPH degree.
  • βœ“Shift differential for split-day scheduling (early-morning and evening rehab sessions).
  • βœ“Bonus structure at private-practice or performance-lab settings tied to volume.

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Exercise Physiologists Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
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Exercise Physiologists Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$43K
$81Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Washington
$81K
+37%
Oregon
$72K
+20%
Minnesota
$67K
+13%
Massachusetts
$66K
+11%
New Jersey
$65K
+9%
Colorado
$64K
+7%
New Hampshire
$64K
+7%
Wisconsin
$63K
+6%
Connecticut
$63K
+5%
California
$62K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Washington$81,310+36.7%
Oregon$71,630+20.5%
Minnesota$67,230+13.1%
Massachusetts$65,950+10.9%
New Jersey$64,680+8.8%
Colorado$63,800+7.3%
New Hampshire$63,590+6.9%
Wisconsin$63,210+6.3%
Connecticut$62,510+5.1%
California$62,440+5.0%
1–10 of 42

Exercise Physiologists Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$84,300+41.8%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$79,840+34.3%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$74,380+25.1%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$72,760+22.4%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$68,560+15.3%
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$66,210+11.4%
Madison, WI$66,100+11.2%
Raleigh-Cary, NC$66,060+11.1%
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$64,610+8.7%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$64,170+7.9%
1–10 of 54
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A exercise physiologists earning $59,460/year would need 1002 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1076 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how exercise physiologists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Exercise Physiologists salary trend (2011–2024) β†’