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Job outlook for physical education instructors in the United States
Physical education instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected physical education instructor job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 57,800 new jobs for physical education instructors are projected over the next decade.
Physical education instructor salaries have increased 6% for physical education instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 17,230 physical education instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 86,755 active physical education instructor job openings in the US.
The average physical education instructor salary is $41,717.
Are physical education instructor jobs in demand?
Physical education instructor job and salary trends over time
Physical education instructor jobs over time
Physical education instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,230 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 18,736 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 19,760 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 19,470 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 19,021 | 0.01% |
Average physical education instructor salary over time
Physical education instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,717 | $20.06 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $41,594 | $20.00 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $41,007 | $19.71 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $40,378 | $19.41 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $39,297 | $18.89 | +5.5% |
Physical education instructor jobs by state
Most common states for physical education instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 430 | 32% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 160 | 26% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 108 | 19% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,205 | 18% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 169 | 18% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 133 | 18% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 126 | 18% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 948 | 17% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 184 | 17% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 562 | 16% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,243 | 15% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 962 | 14% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 849 | 14% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 680 | 14% |
| 15 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 291 | 14% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 263 | 14% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 182 | 14% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 142 | 14% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 125 | 14% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 422 | 13% |
Most common cities for physical education instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $44,708 |
Physical Education Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of physical education instructor experts
United States Sports Academy
Manhattan College
Franklin and Marshall College
Texas State University
Kent State University
Northwestern University
What general advice would you give to a Physical Education Instructor?
Ender Şenel Assoc. Prof. Dr.: General Advice: As you begin your career, I recommend being open to continuous learning and development in your field. From the moment you graduate, seek opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge in practice and make an effort to expand your professional network. Also, focus on continuously developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, as these abilities are valuable in every field. As a new graduate in physical education and sports teaching, focus on developing innovative and diversified exercise programs that support the physical and mental health of your students. For example, you can include alternative physical activities such as yoga or pilates in your lesson plans in addition to traditional sports. Additionally, you can expand your professional network by organizing extracurricular sports activities and collaborating with local sports clubs.
What Physical Education Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ender Şenel Assoc. Prof. Dr.: Skills That Will Gain Importance: In the next 3-5 years, technological competencies and the use of digital tools will become even more important. In particular, developments in educational technologies and distance learning methods will highlight educators' ability to effectively use these tools. Additionally, cultural awareness and the ability to meet a wide variety of learning needs will become critically important in an increasingly global learning environment. Technology is becoming increasingly important in the field of physical education and sports teaching. In the coming years, the use of wearable technologies and smart sports equipment to monitor and evaluate students' physical activities will become widespread. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies can make education more interactive by providing students with realistic experiences in different sports.
What will help Physical Education Instructors increase their earning potential?
Ender Şenel Assoc. Prof. Dr.: Maximizing Salary Potential: To maximize your salary potential in your career, focus on deepening your expertise in your areas of specialization and developing niche skills. Also, take advantage of professional development opportunities and expand your career steps by obtaining certifications or additional training. You can increase your chances of reaching higher-paying positions by developing your teaching and research skills and positioning yourself as a recognized expert in your field. To deepen your expertise, for example, you can distinguish yourself by developing adaptive physical education programs for students with special needs or working on training methodologies to improve the performance of school sports teams. Additionally, you can earn extra income and strengthen your professional profile by taking part in national or international sports organizations or conducting research in the field of sports science.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Physical Education Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Christie , M. González-Toro Ph.D.: Since the public school system in New York City closed in mid-March, physical education teachers have been developing innovative and creative lessons regardless of the delivery method (in-school learning, distance learning, or using a hybrid learning approach). With no access to equipment, gymnasiums, sports fields, open areas, or playgrounds, P.E. has been one of the most challenging subjects to teach remotely. Regardless of these challenges, P.E. teachers are committed to continue providing a well-rounded education. Because of the large number of children who are sitting while staring at a screen for extended periods of time, physical education has become more crucial than it already was.
Physical Education Teacher Education programs are educating future P.E. teachers to adapt the subject to unexpected changes. Physical education professors are committed to educating pre-service teachers to be informed consumers in the use of technology such as the use of different video conferences (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), Google Classroom, and interactive platforms and to record and edit videos. In addition, prospective teachers are encouraged to attend professional development conferences.
What general advice would you give to a Physical Education Instructor?
David McMahan Ph.D.: 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Physical Education Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
How do you envision technology impacting Physical Education Instructors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: Technology in laboratory automation and laboratory information systems (LIS) will continue to explode in the future. We've seen this over the past decade or two, and there is no reason to believe that technology, especially in the area of molecular diagnostics, will not continue to increase.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Physical Education Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: There are certainly some states with teacher shortages, but that is often because those states' political or economic climates make them less desirable as a place for teachers to work. If teachers' teaching conditions and salaries were improved, there would be more people interested in entering the profession. That said, I typically tell students that the broader their search for a job can be, the more likely they are to find a good fit.
What experience really stands out on Physical Education Instructor resumes?
Helen Callus: It depends on what kinds of position you are applying for, and for performance students, it's going to be playing or teaching mostly. I recommend that students tailor their resumes to suit the positions, so teaching should be prioritized, and the outline should lead to that. I encourage them to put together their overview and then look at gaps - teaching experience, perhaps some administrative experiences that are always helpful.
If they don't have those things, actively search for them to add that line to their resumes. It can be a terrific way to develop the document in ways that can lead to better job success. A range of skills is most likely to appeal to a broader set of jobs. Doing multiple things (things we don't even realize we do, as musicians, daily) can be helpful. The student is then willing to be creative and open to start out doing things that are related but perhaps not their first choice.
What Physical Education Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Helen Callus: A gap year is a terrific way to build a resume. By looking at where there might be a lack of experience like competitions, teaching, administration, summer festival interns, assistantships - they can focus their time and build their resumes well. I also think being creative in these current times, showing that you have experience teaching remotely, making a studio, creating a website, writing an article, and doing research that could be helpful later on. You could also spend the time preparing repertoire to teach or take auditions and make your first recording and video YouTube performance.