Have a heart healthy Valentine’s Day

How are you spending Valentine’s Day? While many are celebrating with that special someone, let’s not lose sight of where true love comes from: the heart! Cardiologists get a close up look at the heart all year round (including during Heart Healthy Month in February), and they are compensated handsomely for it. In May 2023, the annual mean wage for cardiologists was $423,250.

Preventive care recommendations often include prioritizing exercise and healthy eating (of course, exceptions for yummy candy on February 14 must be considered). Dietitians and nutritionists who help us learn about eating healthier had average annual wages of $71,280. The annual mean wage for exercise physiologists was $57,050 per year, while exercise trainers and group fitness instructors averaged $51,270.

A cardiologist's salary may sound enticing, but the projected employment increase of 5.0 percent from 2023 to 2033 pales in comparison to projected growth for some occupations in the exercise field. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors are expected to have a 13.6-percent gain in employment over this period, while exercise physiologists are projected to have a 10.4-percent gain.

These data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program and the Employment Projections program. To learn more, see "Employment Projections — 2023–2033" and the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Tables. We also have detailed tables about the latest projections.