Kinesiology and Exercise Science Careers Outlook

Kinesiology Career Path

There are multiple career paths that can help you become a kinesiotherapist. Many include a mix of educational experience, such as completing a health care degree, and clinical experience.

To become a registered kinesiotherapist (RKT), the registration instructions published by the AKTA say you must graduate from a kinesiotherapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). You can build a foundation in kinesiology through an in-person or online program in kinesiology or a related field, such as exercise science; if you plan to become an RKT, confirm that your kinesiotherapy program holds CAAHEP accreditation. An online bachelor’s in kinesiology could be a great way to build that foundation with the flexibility to study from anywhere. Course sequences vary by school, but the AKA identifies four core elements of the undergraduate kinesiology major:

• Physical activity in health, wellbeing and quality of life
• Scientific foundations of physical activity, such as physiology, anatomy, biomechanics and motor behavior
• Cultural, historical and philosophical dimensions of physical activity
• The practice of physical activity, through coursework, recreation or internships

The Board of Registration for Kinesiotherapy’s instructions, published by the American Kinesiotherapy Association, also require you to complete a set of core courses, including human anatomy, human physiology and kinesiology, with at least a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in those courses and no course grade below a C. You also need at least 1,000 hours of clinical experience supervised by a registered kinesiotherapist, who must verify those hours in writing, and a written sponsorship letter from a registered kinesiotherapist. Through this clinical work, you’ll apply what you learned in your kinesiology classes to real-life care settings. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for registration. To become a registered kinesiotherapist, you’ll have to pass a written registration exam, which is offered in January and July.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology?

Some kinesiology careers require more education than a bachelor’s degree. Among the 10 jobs below, occupational therapy, physical therapy and athletic training require a graduate degree from an accredited program. Recreational therapy’s main credential requires at least a bachelor’s degree, and respiratory therapy requires completing an accredited respiratory therapy program. Several job listings below note the education and credentials involved, so you can compare paths. You can also look for kinesiology jobs that highlight your favorite aspect of kinesiology, whether that’s nutrition, exercise physiology and education, or treating sports injuries.

10 Great Jobs in Kinesiology

A kinesiology education equips you with broadly applicable knowledge about human movement and the human body. The AKA, an organization committed to promoting kinesiology nationally and internationally, notes kinesiology careers on its website. We developed the below list of kinesiology jobs based on some of the kinesiologist careers featured by AKA and recognized by the BLS. Median annual wages are national estimates for May 2025 from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, and each job description summarizes that occupation’s definition in the BLS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system.

1. Athletic Trainer

Median annual wage, May 2025: $62,520

Education and credentials: After the fall 2022 term, bachelor’s-level athletic training programs stopped enrolling new students, so students who want to become athletic trainers now enter a graduate program, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). CAATE says these professional programs lead to eligibility to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) certification exam.

Description: Athletic trainers evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses and provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency and rehabilitative care. If you’re passionate about sports and injury care, this is a kinesiology job you may enjoy.

2. Coach or Scout

Median annual wage, May 2025: $47,320

Description: Coaches and scouts instruct athletes in the fundamentals of a sport for competition, demonstrate techniques, and may evaluate athletes’ strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits. Becoming a coach or scout could be an excellent kinesiology career if you’re passionate about a particular sport. If you want to coach school sports, check with your school administration or your state’s high school athletic association about its coaching requirements.

3. Fitness Trainer and Instructor

Median annual wage, May 2025 (exercise trainers and group fitness instructors): $47,160

Description: Kinesiology jobs as fitness trainers and instructors could be a great fit for you if you enjoy motivating people through exercise. These professionals instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for personal fitness, demonstrate techniques and form, and develop individualized approaches to exercise. If this kinesiology career interests you, there are many specialities you can pursue. For example, you could become a yoga instructor or professional trainer at a local gym.

4. Massage Therapist

Median annual wage, May 2025: $58,450

Description: Massage therapists perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints and may help assess range of motion and muscle strength or propose client therapy plans. Your kinesiology knowledge of muscles and movement could be useful in this work. If this career interests you, check the massage therapy requirements in the state where you plan to work.

5. Occupational Therapist

Median annual wage, May 2025: $100,330

Education and credentials: Entry into the occupational therapy profession is at the master’s or doctoral degree level, according to the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). To take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam through its U.S. education route, you must graduate with an entry-level occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE-accredited program. Certification is separate from state licensure, so also check the licensing requirements in the state where you plan to work.

Description: For those interested in completing additional schooling, getting a master’s or a doctorate in occupational therapy could lead to an excellent kinesiology career. Occupational therapists plan and organize rehabilitative programs that help people with disabilities or developmental delays build or restore daily living skills and independence. As an occupational therapist, you could help a variety of patients—children, people with disabilities and elderly individuals, for example.

6. Physical Therapist

Median annual wage, May 2025: $102,760

Education and credentials: Physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) describes the programs it accredits as doctor of physical therapy programs, and its 2025 program data show programs ranging from 88 to 180 weeks long.

Description: Like occupational therapists, physical therapists plan and carry out rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct conditions caused by disease or injury. This could be a kinesiology job worth considering if you’re interested in completing additional schooling.

7. Recreational Therapist

Median annual wage, May 2025: $61,960

Education and credentials: The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) requires at least a bachelor’s degree and passing a national certification exam.

Description: Recreational therapists plan and coordinate medically approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions, using activities such as sports, trips, drama, social activities and crafts. If this kinesiologist job interests you, investigate state licensure requirements and employers’ certification preferences in your area.

8. Respiratory Therapist

Median annual wage, May 2025: $82,280

Education and credentials: To take the exam for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) requires graduating from an accredited entry-level respiratory therapy program with at least an associate degree.

Description: Respiratory therapists assess, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders. Your kinesiology background could be beneficial as you learn about pharmacology, physiology and other topics as they relate to respiratory care.

9. Teacher

Median annual wage, May 2025: $63,970 (elementary school); $64,370 (middle school); $72,040 (secondary school); $77,270 (postsecondary recreation and fitness studies)

Description: AKA lists “physical education teacher” as a kinesiology career. Becoming a PE teacher is a great opportunity for kinesiology graduates to share their knowledge with others. If teaching about kinesiology and exercise science interests you, you can pursue a career in many educational settings, from elementary schools to colleges, where postsecondary recreation and fitness studies teachers teach courses that include exercise physiology. Depending on where you’d like to work, check state licensure, certification and registration requirements, such as the teacher certification requirements in each state.

10. Umpire, Referee or Other Sports Official

Median annual wage, May 2025: $40,710

Description: Umpires, referees and other sports officials officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events, detect rule infractions and decide penalties. They have thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations of the sport they officiate. As a kinesiology graduate, you may be interested in these jobs if you’re passionate about a particular sport.

Kinesiology Job Outlook

The BLS doesn’t publish separate wage or employment data for kinesiotherapists. In the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, kinesiotherapist is listed as an example title under exercise physiologists (SOC 29-1128), who assess, plan or carry out fitness programs. According to the BLS, exercise physiologists had a median annual wage of $59,460 and national employment of 8,560 in May 2025.

If you want a credential in exercise physiology, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) offers the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) credentials. For the ACSM-EP, the degree requirement depends on when your degree is awarded: before August 15, 2027, it is a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or an equivalent field from a regionally accredited institution; on or after that date, the degree must come from a CAAHEP-accredited exercise science program or one that has formally started the CAAHEP accreditation process. The degree is one of several eligibility conditions ACSM lists.

Among the 10 jobs listed above, physical therapists ($102,760) and occupational therapists ($100,330) had the highest national median annual wages in May 2025, based on the BLS OEWS figures in each listing, and both require a graduate degree. For pay by state and metro area, see our kinesiology and exercise science salary guide.

Why Become a Kinesiologist?

Kinesiology careers span sports, fitness, education and health care, as the jobs above show. If you’re interested in helping people improve their health and wellness, one of the many kinesiology careers outlined in this article could be for you.