Kinesiology and Physical Education
Parks, Recreation & Fitness · federal classification: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $37,206 | $30,152 to $42,308 | 12 | 58% |
| Associate's Degree | $41,082 | $36,512 to $47,915 | 30 | 77% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $52,708 | $47,621 to $57,769 | 618 | 96% |
| Master's Degree | $59,065 | $53,469 to $64,699 | 189 | 99% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +6% (2025 to 2035), about 116,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | +7.3% | 68,000 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | +6.1% | 36,400 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | +6% | 5,100 |
| Athletic Trainers | $62,520 | +12.7% | 2,400 |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | +5.5% | 2,200 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $59,460 | +12.8% | 1,400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a kinesiology and physical education program, of 1,306 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- American Public University System
- University of Iowa
- California State University-Fullerton
- Texas A&M University-College Station
- University of Memphis
- Texas State University
- College of the Canyons
- Indiana University-Bloomington
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.