Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

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.

$83,980
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+7% projected 2024โ€“2034

What They Do

Recreation and fitness studies teachers work at colleges and universities, instructing students who are preparing for careers in physical education, athletic training, sports management, and wellness promotion. They design and deliver lectures on topics such as exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, facility operations, and recreational programming. Beyond classroom teaching, these professors develop course materials, create assignments and exams, and grade student work while holding regular office hours to support learners individually. Many also supervise students in practical labs where they practice fitness assessments, learn proper exercise techniques, or study biomechanics using specialized equipment.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Health and Physical Education/Fitness(doctoral)University of Western States, OR
$77,396
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)CUNY Brooklyn College, NY
$76,067
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(doctoral)University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC
$71,670
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(doctoral)United States Sports University, AL
$71,149
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Plymouth State University, NH
$70,081
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Saint Mary's College of California, CA
$64,450
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$63,418
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Concordia University-Irvine, CA
$61,782
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Central Washington University, WA
$61,551
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, TX
$60,785
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Sul Ross State University, TX
$60,059
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)American Public University System, WV
$59,601
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Concordia University-Nebraska, NE
$58,863
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Northwestern University, IL
$58,537
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)American University, DC
$58,019
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Auburn University at Montgomery, AL
$55,725
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Ohio University-Main Campus, OH
$55,675
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Texas Woman's University, TX
$55,110
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)East Texas A&M University, TX
$55,000
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Georgetown University, DC
$54,668
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA
$54,185
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)United States Sports University, AL
$54,034
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Dallas Baptist University, TX
$53,971
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Southeastern Oklahoma State University, OK
$53,961
Health and Physical Education/Fitness(masters)Arkansas State University, AR
$53,952

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