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The differences between exercise physiologists and exercise specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an exercise physiologist and an exercise specialist. Additionally, an exercise physiologist has an average salary of $49,399, which is higher than the $41,669 average annual salary of an exercise specialist.
The top three skills for an exercise physiologist include patients, rehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation. The most important skills for an exercise specialist are patients, rehabilitation, and patient care.
| Exercise Physiologist | Exercise Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,399 | $41,669 |
| Hourly rate | $23.75 | $20.03 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 38,633 | 38,198 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An exercise physiologist is a health professional who analyzes the fitness of patients to help them improve their health or maintain good health. Exercise physiologists are required to help patients with heart diseases and other chronic conditions such as diabetes or pulmonary disease to regain their health. Certified exercise physiologists must administer exercise stress tests in health and unhealthy populations. They also assist both amateur and professional athletes in helping them boost their performance in sports.
An Exercise Specialist creates exercise plans designed to improve health for clients, such as those at high risk for heart, metabolic, or lung disease. They work at health clubs, hotels, gyms, and hospitals.
Exercise physiologists and exercise specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Exercise Physiologist | Exercise Specialist | |
| Average salary | $49,399 | $41,669 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $82,000 | Between $28,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairfield, CA | Kaneohe, HI |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Hancock Wellness |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an exercise physiologist and an exercise specialist in terms of educational background:
| Exercise Physiologist | Exercise Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between exercise physiologists' and exercise specialists' demographics:
| Exercise Physiologist | Exercise Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |