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Field of degree: Recreation and fitness

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Recreation and fitness field of degree. Employment: 796,370. Median annual wage: $48,000.

Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2019.

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Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2019
Data	Recreation and fitness	All fields
Employment	796,370	56,820,460
Median wage	48,000	60,000
Percent employed part time	17	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	48	61
Percent with an advanced degree	32	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness major, 2019.

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Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness major, 2019
Recreation and fitness major	Major share
Physical Fitness Parks Recreation And Leisure	100%
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a recreation and fitness degree, by occupational group, 2019.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a recreation and fitness degree, by occupational group, 2019
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	17%
Management occupations	14
Educational instruction and library occupations	13
Sales and related occupations	9
Office and administrative support occupations	8
Other	39
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a recreation and fitness degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a recreation and fitness degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2020–30	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors	39%	High school diploma or equivalent	4%	13%
Coaches and scouts	26	Bachelor's degree	2	17
Postsecondary teachers	24	See How to Become One	2	73
Physical therapists	21	Doctoral or professional degree	5	66
Registered nurses	9	Bachelor's degree	3	12
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	8	Bachelor's degree	3	54
Elementary school teachers, except special education	7	Bachelor's degree	4	48
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other	7	Bachelor's degree	4	20
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	4	High school diploma or equivalent	2	8
Retail salespersons	-1	No formal educational credential	2	3
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Recreation and fitness,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/recreation-and-fitness/recreation-and-fitness-field-of-degree.htm (visited May 17, 2022).

Last Modified Date: Friday, December 3, 2021