Occupation Summary

Exercise Physiologists

O*NET 29-1128.00

Description:

Assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.

Annual Wages:
$55,827.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 22.58%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Conduct stress tests, using electrocardiograph (EKG) machines.
  2. Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
  3. Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
  4. Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
  5. Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
  6. Measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures.
  7. Measure oxygen consumption or lung functioning, using spirometers.
  8. Perform routine laboratory tests of blood samples for cholesterol level or glucose tolerance.
  9. Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment, such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
  10. Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
  11. Recommend methods to increase lifestyle physical activity.
  12. Teach courses or seminars related to exercise or diet for patients, athletes, or community groups.
  13. Assess physical performance requirements to aid in the development of individualized recovery or rehabilitation exercise programs.
  14. Calibrate exercise or testing equipment.
  15. Educate athletes or coaches on techniques to improve athletic performance, such as heart rate monitoring, recovery techniques, hydration strategies, or training limits.
  16. Evaluate staff performance in leading group exercise or conducting diagnostic tests.
  17. Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals.
  18. Mentor or train staff to lead group exercise.
  19. Order or recommend diagnostic procedures, such as stress tests, drug screenings, or urinary tests.
  20. Plan or conduct exercise physiology research projects.
  21. Present exercise knowledge, program information, or research study findings at professional meetings or conferences.
  22. Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
  23. Supervise maintenance of exercise or exercise testing equipment.
  24. Teach behavior modification classes related to topics such as stress management or weight control.
  25. Teach group exercise for low-, medium-, or high-risk clients to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Exercise Physiologists employed Annual Growth Rate
General medical and surgical hospitals 25.5 0.24
Offices of other health practitioners 4.5 2.55
Offices of physicians 2.9 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $26.84
2024 National average hourly wage $28.66
2022 National employment 16,500
2022 Texas employment 1,134
Texas projected employment by 2032 1,390
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 101




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
87.20%
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
78.20%
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
76.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
76.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
73.60%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
71.00%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
68.20%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
60.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
60.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
54.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
77.60%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
75.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
75.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
75.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
75.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
82.40%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
77.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
72.40%


  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    -- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Documenting/Recording Information
    -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.



Tools

Body plethysmographs: Whole body air plethysmography systems;

Bodyweight measuring scales: Underwater weighing tanks;

Calorimeters: Metabolic carts;

Cardiac output CO monitoring units: Heart rate monitors;

Cholesterol monitors or meters: Cholesterol analyzers;

Climbing devices for rehabilitation or therapy: Stair climbers;

Clock timers: Electronic timing systems;

Cognitive or dexterity or perceptual or sensory evaluation or testing products: Perceptual goggles;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dynamometers: Isokinetic dynamometers; Muscle strength dynamometers;

Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices: Telemetry units;

Electrocardiography EKG units: Electrocardiography EKG machines;

Electromyography EMG units: Electromyographs EMG;

Electronic blood pressure units: Automated blood pressure measurement equipment;

Goniometers or arthrometers: Goniometers or arthrometers;

Grip strengthener: Hydraulic hand dynamometers;

Holter or wearable EKG monitoring systems or accessories: Holter monitors;

Impedance meters: Bioelectric impedance analyzers;

Infrared spectrometers: Near infrared spectrometers;

Intravenous infusion pumps for general use: Intravenous IV infusion pumps;

Lactate analyzers: Lactate analyzers;

Mass spectrometers: Dual energy x ray absorptiometers;

Medical acoustic stethoscopes: Mechanical stethoscopes;

Medical ultrasound or doppler or echocardiograph transducer accessories: Echocardiography systems;

Mercury blood pressure units: Manual blood pressure equipment;

Microcentrifuges: Microhematocrits;

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Osmometers: Osmometers;

Patient floor scales: Patient weight scales;

Pedometers: Pedometers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photocopiers: Photocopying equipment;

Pulse oximeter units: Pulse oximeters;

Respiratory monitoring kit accessories: Oxygen analyzers;

Skinfold calipers: Skinfold calipers;

Special purpose telephones: Multi-line telephone systems;

Spirometers: Spirometers; Electronic spirometers;

Stationary bicycles: Cycle ergometers;

Treadmills: Exercise treadmills;

Urinalysis analyzers: Urine analysis equipment;

Weights or sets for rehabilitation or therapy: Strength training equipment;

Work table or station for rehabilitation or therapy: Arm crank ergometers;


Technology

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Medical software: MEDITECH software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Exercise Physiologists include:
  • 29-9091.00 Athletic Trainers
  • 29-2031.00 Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
  • 29-1031.00 Dietitians and Nutritionists
  • 39-9031.00 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
  • 29-1122.00 Occupational Therapists
  • 29-1229.04 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
  • 31-2021.00 Physical Therapist Assistants
  • 29-1123.00 Physical Therapists
  • 29-1125.00 Recreational Therapists
  • 29-1229.06 Sports Medicine Physicians


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about exercise physiologists and certifications, visit: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
  • American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP)
  • Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA)
  • For more information about accredited programs in exercise science, exercise physiology, and kinesiology, visit: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (COAES)
  • CareerOneStop

  • For a career video on exercise physiologists, visit: Exercise Physiologists
  • Exercise Physiologists

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.