How much does a fitness professor make?
a year · about $37 an hour
A typical fitness professor in the United States makes $77,270 a year, about $37 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They may teach anatomy or conditioning theory, lead class discussions, and answer questions during office hours. They also prepare lessons and grade work; some advise students or research and publish new findings.
Did you know? Surprise: O*NET lists teaching students how to become sports coaches as one possible extra task for U.S. fitness professors.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $44,900 and $134,890How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, then usually continue to a master’s or Ph.D.; four-year universities often expect a doctorate, while some community colleges accept a master’s. Graduate teaching-assistant work can help build teaching experience.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, advanced degrees, and useful certifications can affect pay. Pay also varies by state, college type, and full- or part-time hours; large universities may combine teaching with research.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($127,780), lowest in Alaska ($58,330).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $44,900 | $77,270 | $134,890 | about 13,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,780 | about 2,000 |
| Maryland | $97,640 | about 90 |
| Massachusetts | $87,960 | about 290 |
| Michigan | $83,690 | about 320 |
| Wyoming | $83,260 | about 30 |
Official definition: Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-1193.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251193.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY