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Field of degree: Recreation and fitness

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Recreation and fitness field of degree. Employment: 915,940. Median annual wage: $54,000.

Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2022.

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Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2022
Data	Recreation and fitness	All fields
Employment	915,940	62,187,580
Median wage	54,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	17	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	52	62
Percent with an advanced degree	34	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness major, 2022.

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Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness, 2022
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, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a recreation and fitness degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	18%
Management occupations	16
Educational instruction and library occupations	12
Sales and related occupations	9
Business and financial operations occupations	8
Other	38
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 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors	14%	High school diploma or equivalent	2%	15%
Physical therapists	14	Doctoral or professional degree	5	70
Coaches and scouts	9	Bachelor's degree	3	22
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	4	21
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	3	14
Physicians, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	2	100
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	1	High school diploma or equivalent	2	8
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary	-1	Master's degree	2	56
Elementary school teachers, except special education	-1	Bachelor's degree	4	49
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	-1	Bachelor's degree	3	56
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 June 08, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024