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Field of degree: Recreation and fitness

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Recreation and fitness field of degree. Employment: 862,080. Median annual wage: $50,000.

Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2021.

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Table 1. Recreation and fitness degree, 2021
Data	Recreation and fitness	All fields
Employment	862,080	59,687,450
Median wage	50,000	63,000
Percent employed part time	16	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	50	62
Percent with an advanced degree	34	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness major, 2021.

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Chart 1. Types of recreation and fitness, 2021
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, 2021.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a recreation and fitness degree, by occupational group, 2021
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	18%
Management occupations	14
Educational instruction and library occupations	12
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 2022–32	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2021	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2021
Physical therapists	15%	Doctoral or professional degree	5%	68%
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors	14	High school diploma or equivalent	3	14
Coaches and scouts	9	Bachelor's degree	2	18
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	3	13
Postsecondary teachers, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	2	72
Managers, all other	3	Bachelor's degree	3	21
Physicians, all other	3	Doctoral or professional degree	2	100
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	55
Customer service representatives	-5	High school diploma or equivalent	1	4
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 September 06, 2023).

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023