Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers
O*NET title: Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Aquatic Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Athletic Instructor
Median pay
$77,270
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$44,900 – $134,890
People employed
12,630
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (41 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers salary in every state →
What recreation and fitness studies teachers do
- 01Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- 02Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 03Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 04Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- 05Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
- 06Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Psychology
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 6 years, up to and including 8 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from recreation and fitness studies teachers
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School82% · −4%
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education80% · −7%
- Instructional Coordinators80% · 0%
- Occupational Therapists79% · +30%
- Dietitians and Nutritionists79% · −1%
Change into recreation and fitness studies teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists79% · $76,580
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses79% · $97,550
- Clinical Nurse Specialists79% · $97,550
- Dietitians and Nutritionists79% · $76,400
- Hospitalists78% · $265,930
Majors that lead here
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
- Sports Studies
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.