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What is a physical education instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
David McMahan Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a physical education instructor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $20.06 an hour? That's $41,717 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 19% and produce 57,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a physical education instructor?

David McMahan Ph.D.David McMahan Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College

Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.
ScorePhysical Education InstructorUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $41,717

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.4

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 5.11%

Black or African American 7.05%

Hispanic or Latino 10.64%

Unknown 5.40%

White 71.31%

Gender

female 34.48%

male 65.52%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress level
4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Physical education instructor career paths

Key steps to become a physical education instructor

  1. Explore physical education instructor education requirements

    Most common physical education instructor degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.8 %

    Master's

    16.8 %

    Associate

    6.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific physical education instructor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Classroom Management14.90%
    CPR8.84%
    Health Education8.58%
    Adaptive7.70%
    Volleyball5.63%
  3. Complete relevant physical education instructor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New physical education instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a physical education instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real physical education instructor resumes.
  4. Gain additional physical education instructor certifications

    Physical education instructor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific physical education instructor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for physical education instructors include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research physical education instructor duties and responsibilities

    • Develop organize syllabus to direct students in achieving subject knowledge require for course completion.
    • Help t implement and test other students for IEP goals.
    • Head coach of several junior varsity and varsity sports, including football, softball and basketball.
    • Help with compliance to make sure softball and cross country student-athletes will be eligible once enroll.
  6. Prepare your physical education instructor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your physical education instructor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a physical education instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable physical education instructor resume templates

    Build a professional physical education instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your physical education instructor resume.
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
    Physical Education Instructor Resume
  7. Apply for physical education instructor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a physical education instructor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first physical education instructor job

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Average physical education instructor salary

The average physical education instructor salary in the United States is $41,717 per year or $20 per hour. Physical education instructor salaries range between $30,000 and $57,000 per year.

Average physical education instructor salary
$41,717 Yearly
$20.06 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do physical education instructors rate their job?

-/5

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Physical education instructor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

The transfer of knowledge and the joy on the student's face when they understand


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

It keeps healthy as well as helps in maintaining the better fitness ,here in physical education there is no much money required to excel in it. No special area required for the recreational games.

Cons

laziness and indiscipline is the worst things that make students ugly in their profession.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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