Exercise Science Jobs: Overview
Exercise science is the study of how people move and how their movement affects their muscles and tissues. Exercise science jobs incorporate a wide variety of professions, such as fitness trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists, chiropractors, and more. Most jobs involve analyzing people's bodies and deciding the best fitness regimen for their needs. Those who focus on exercise science may also use their fitness regimens to help injured patients recover strength in their muscles.
The workplace can vary. Some exercise science jobs can be in a gym, a spa, or a hospital. Many professionals run their own businesses. The job growth rate varies depending on the specific exercise science role. An exercise physiologist, for example, should see a 9% growth rate.
Here are some jobs in exercise science:
- Chiropractor: Helps patients alleviate neck and back pain by means of adjusting and realigning the spine.
- Massage therapist: Massages the soft tissue in the body to alleviate muscle pain and injuries.
- Recreational therapist: Uses recreational-based treatments to alleviate anxiety, stress, and depression. Activities include yoga, meditation, painting, etc.
- Sports medicine physician: Helps diagnose and treat sports-related injuries.
- Occupational therapist: Helps individuals with disabilities live an independent life. An occupational therapist helps develop, improve, and maintain patients' mobility.
- Physical therapist: Helps physically injured patients regain their mobility.
- Sports psychologist: Helps athletes improve their performance through motivation techniques, stress management, and visualization.
- Fitness trainer: Provides physical training regimens to help individuals meet their goals, such as weight loss, bodybuilding, or muscle building.
- Strength and conditioning coach: Helps athletes meet their training goals by developing specific work-out regimens.
- Sports physical therapist: Helps athletes recover their athletic abilities after an injury.
Salary for Exercise Science Jobs
The salary for exercise science jobs will vary depending on the specific exercise science you specialize in. A chiropractor makes a median salary of $66,897 a year while an occupational therapist makes an average of $38.5 an hour. Fitness trainers, on the other hand, make an average of $19.76 an hour.
Your personal income will depend on your education, experience, and location. The more education you have within the exercise science field, the more specialized you can become. This translates to a higher salary. Go to our Salary Tool to find out how much you can earn in your city within the exercise science field.
Finding Exercise Science Jobs
There are many paths you can follow with exercise science jobs. Therefore, it's crucial that you define exactly what your career goals are. A physical therapist may be a good career path if you'd like to work in rehabilitation. However, if you enjoy working with athletes, you may prefer a career in sports medicine. You may also want to open your own chiropractor's office one day. Write down where you would eventually like your path to lead, and apply for exercise science roles that can lead you to your final goal.
Review the Job Description
Read the job description carefully. What are the qualifications and skills needed for the job? Will you be working in a sports facility, a hospital, or an outpatient clinic? Is the company a small practice or a large healthcare facility? Since exercise science is such a broad field, a job description may note preferred skills. For example, a company may want you to have experience working with geriatrics, children, or athletes.
Make sure you meet the qualifications needed. You may need to develop treatment plans or implement therapeutic exercises. Are there specific credentials required? Some states require state licensure or a specific degree, such as a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree or an Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) license. Many exercise science jobs also require that you have basic CPR certification.
Research the company
For any exercise science job description you find, research the company. You can do this by seeing if the company has a social media presence. Are there reviews and testimonials from patients who have successfully gone through fitness regimens or physical rehab sessions?
Scroll through the company's website to see if there are growth opportunities. See if there are opportunities to get additional certificates and licenses in exercise science. If massage therapy interests you, is there room to specialize in sports massage or prenatal massage, for instance?
Research companies that offer in-house training, specialized training, and workshops. If you feel you need additional training in a specific field, find out which companies offer mentorship positions from more seasoned professionals.
How to Apply to Exercise Science Jobs
When applying to an exercise science function, look at the job description carefully to see which qualifications and skills are listed. It's important that you meet those qualifications before applying.
Create an Effective Resume
Create an impressive resume to stand out from the crowd and land your dream job. Feel free to use our sample massage therapist resume as a template to help create your own.
Exercise science job descriptions will typically have specific resume keywords. If it's for an exercise physiologist, for example, you may see words like "rehabilitation," "fitness," or "regimen." Copy and paste the resume keywords into your resume to show your qualifications in those specific areas.
References are particularly important. If you have worked with clients and improved their fitness, their movement, or helped eliminate muscle pain in specific areas of their body, be sure to note this.
The above are details that you should include. There are also common resume mistakes that you should avoid. These are:
- Typos and grammatical errors
- Lack of specifics
- Highlighting duties instead of your accomplishments
- No action verbs
- Incorrect contact information
For more help with your resume, take a look at our professional resume writing services. Our skilled writers will help you create a document that will impress any recruiter.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter
After you complete your resume, write a compelling cover letter. Not every job will need it, but if it's optional, including one is a good idea. This is especially true for an exercise science job, as you will want to include some of your fitness plans that were particularly effective or specific exercises that helped clients meet their physical goals. These kinds of details will help your cover letter stand out from the competition.
Here is an example of a personal trainer's cover letter. Note the details in the first paragraph. The resume lists her degree, certification, as well as the specific fitness regimen she provided clients. She also lists her achievements in an easy-to-read bullet list.
Submit Your Application
To submit your application, create an account at Monster. Once you sign up and create your profile, you can start submitting job applications to exercise science positions. Make sure your resume is free of errors, has the correct contact information, and follows the guidelines in the job application.
How to Follow up With an Employer
After submitting your exercise science job application, wait for about one to two weeks before following up. When writing your email, find the appropriate person to send your email to. There may be a hiring manager listed in the job description or you may find one listed on the company's website. Reiterate your passion for the job, remind them that you recently submitted a job application, and add your exercise science qualifications. Remember to remain professional.
Here is a follow-up letter sample for an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) position at a university. The letter emphasizes a "lifelong commitment" to those with physical challenges and multiple disabilities. These are the kinds of details that often stand out with recruiters and hiring managers.
Interviewing Tips
If you get a call back for an interview, you've done well so far. The next step is to prepare for the interview. Research the company and find out what its mission is, what exercise science services it provides, who its clients are, and so on.
Practice common interview questions they may ask, such as what kind of success you've had with previous clients. Talk about specifics. What physical ailments did clients approach you with, and how did you help them improve their strength and their muscles? Make sure to keep up with your knowledge of the industry, and demonstrate that you are familiar with any new rehabilitation or fitness techniques.
Interview Process
The interview process may be virtual or in-person. You may also be asked to demonstrate some of the rehab or coaching techniques you have used with previous clients.
To prepare for the interview process, use the STAR method. The STAR method can help you effectively answer any interview question. STAR stands for "Situation, Task, Action, and Result." Describe the situation, provide details on what you were tasked with, be specific on the action you took and how you accomplished the goal, and describe the results.
Be sure to go into specifics such as how you deal with recovery strategies, how you exercise specific muscles, what fitness regimens work and don't work, and what kind of advice you give clients who have chronic pain in different areas of their bodies. The more details you can give about your field of expertise, the better.
Follow Up
If you have not heard from the company after one to two weeks, you should follow up with a phone call. Try to reach the person who interviewed you directly, and remind them why you are a good fit for the exercise science position. Here are some other points you should mention:
- Talk about why you like the company
- Emphasize why you enjoy doing the kind of exercise science you specialize in
- Provide your contact information
- State that you are available immediately
After your follow-up phone call, wait one to two more weeks. If you have not heard back, brush up on your resume and continue to apply to exercise science jobs.
What to Do When You Get an Offer
When you get an offer for an exercise science role, thank the employer first and foremost. Then ask for time to review the offer. Pay attention to the benefits, working hours, salary, job title, and other details that stand out. How do they match your expectations?
Is it possible to grow within the company? Are there opportunities to broaden your knowledge or add to your certifications? Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Make sure your salary matches the median salary for the exercise science job in your city. If it doesn't, consider negotiating a higher salary. This may not always be possible, but the company may offer additional benefits or a bonus instead. Be prepared to consider everything.
Once you have looked over the offer and it meets your requirements, respond promptly and professionally. If you have decided to pass on the offer, be respectful and provide an explanation.
Career Paths for Exercise Science Jobs
A career path for an exercise science job can go in a variety of directions. You may choose to be a personal trainer or you may decide to further your education and become a physical therapist. Here are some options:
- Physical Therapist: To pursue a career in physical therapy, you will need to be a licensed physical therapist. Your focus is helping rehabilitate individuals with physical injuries, illnesses, or chronic conditions to improve their mobility.
- Clinical Exercise Physiologist: As a clinical exercise physiologist, your goal is to develop exercise regimens for patients who have chronic illnesses or cardiovascular issues. You will need to obtain an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologists license.
- Sports Nutritionist: If you are an athlete or you enjoy working with athletes, consider a career as a sports nutritionist. Your job would be to advise athletes on the best nutrition for their goals as well as to match their diets to their training.
Deciding What Your Career Path Should Be
As exercise science encompasses a variety of careers, it can be challenging to decide exactly what your career goals are. To narrow your focus, you should first decide what your interests are. Do you enjoy the role diet plays when combined with exercise? Or do you enjoy helping physically injured patients regain their mobility? You may also enjoy helping patients with chronic ailments, like back pain. Jot down your answers, and research your career paths, given your interests and strengths.
If your career goal requires more education beyond a bachelor's degree, consider returning to school and working in a freelance or part-time position in the meantime. A clinical exercise physiologist, for example, will require that you have a master's degree in clinical exercise physiology as well as 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience. To gain more experience, think about job shadowing or internships. This is a great way to get the required amount of hours.
Professional Development and Networking Opportunities
Continuing education courses are very important in exercise science since what we know about the body is always expanding. It's important for those in exercise science jobs to learn about rehabilitation techniques, injury prevention, and nutrition.
Certifications and specializations are also important. You can consider adding more certifications to your resume, such as Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certifications. Attend meetings at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Both offer a wealth of knowledge on exercise science.
There are also journals and publications you can subscribe to, such as Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise or the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Whatever your field of interest is, find a journal, publication, or organization that can keep you up to date with the industry.
The Future of the Exercise Science Industry
The future of the exercise science industry looks promising. With data analytics, exercise science professionals can better tailor rehabilitation and fitness regimens to individuals.
With the spread of telehealth and virtual meetings, telehealth rehab sessions may be possible. This can expand job opportunities worldwide.
As the global population lives longer, exercise science professionals will need to develop more fitness programs for the elderly. This may also include integrating chronic conditions into their workouts.
Similar Occupations to Exercise Science Jobs
Looking for a role related to the exercise science field? Check out these options: