Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a clinical exercise specialist in the United States is approximately $62,387 per year, equating to around $30 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific healthcare setting. For example, clinical exercise specialists working in hospitals or specialized rehabilitation clinics may earn higher wages compared to those in fitness centers.
Some states offer higher salaries for clinical exercise specialists. For instance, professionals in California and New York often report above-average earnings due to the high demand for healthcare services and fitness expertise. The following list highlights the highest-paying states for clinical exercise specialists:
As the focus on health and wellness continues to grow, so does the need for qualified clinical exercise specialists. Job opportunities exist in various environments, including:
This diverse range of settings ensures that clinical exercise specialists have numerous options to advance their careers while making a significant impact on clients' lives.
Let Zippia find your next clinical exercise specialist job
Let Zippia find your next clinical exercise specialist job
The highest-paying states for clinical exercise specialists are New Jersey, New York, and California. The lowest average clinical exercise specialist salary states are South Dakota, Washington, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $91,773 | $44.12 |
| 2 | New York | $83,792 | $40.28 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $78,720 | $37.85 |
| 4 | California | $81,247 | $39.06 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $79,655 | $38.30 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $72,643 | $34.92 |
| 7 | Delaware | $80,051 | $38.49 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,728 | $36.41 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $78,663 | $37.82 |
| 10 | Indiana | $73,336 | $35.26 |
| 11 | Nevada | $70,933 | $34.10 |
| 12 | Maine | $66,081 | $31.77 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $71,834 | $34.54 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $68,079 | $32.73 |
| 15 | Iowa | $65,910 | $31.69 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $76,393 | $36.73 |
| 17 | Vermont | $68,604 | $32.98 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $73,174 | $35.18 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $58,618 | $28.18 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $69,032 | $33.19 |
| 21 | Ohio | $66,816 | $32.12 |
| 22 | Arizona | $62,047 | $29.83 |
| 23 | Missouri | $65,062 | $31.28 |
| 24 | Michigan | $61,832 | $29.73 |
| 25 | Maryland | $65,704 | $31.59 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $60,128 | $28.91 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $60,733 | $29.20 |
| 28 | Florida | $58,412 | $28.08 |
| 29 | Alaska | $67,442 | $32.42 |
| 30 | Illinois | $63,793 | $30.67 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $62,218 | $29.91 |
| 32 | Virginia | $67,553 | $32.48 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $61,487 | $29.56 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $51,865 | $24.94 |
| 35 | Oregon | $52,940 | $25.45 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $60,737 | $29.20 |
| 37 | Utah | $59,021 | $28.38 |
| 38 | Alabama | $59,351 | $28.53 |
| 39 | Kansas | $52,745 | $25.36 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $51,712 | $24.86 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $49,545 | $23.82 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $49,705 | $23.90 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $52,739 | $25.36 |
| 44 | Georgia | $54,454 | $26.18 |
| 45 | Washington | $49,161 | $23.64 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $49,939 | $24.01 |
| 47 | Texas | $52,352 | $25.17 |
| 48 | Montana | $43,410 | $20.87 |
| 49 | Idaho | $49,155 | $23.63 |
| 50 | Colorado | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,519 | $22.36 |
The highest-paying cities for clinical exercise specialists are New York, NY, White Plains, NY, and Jackson, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $85,732 | $41.22 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | $85,219 | $40.97 |
| 3 | Jackson, NY | $78,461 | $37.72 |
| 4 | Bolivia, NC | $71,124 | $34.19 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $70,275 | $33.79 |
| 6 | Gastonia, NC | $69,907 | $33.61 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, MI | $60,034 | $28.86 |
| 8 | Round Rock, TX | $53,112 | $25.53 |
| 9 | Temple, TX | $52,673 | $25.32 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $50,778 | $24.41 |
| 11 | Denton, TX | $50,028 | $24.05 |
| 12 | Mercer Island, WA | $49,203 | $23.66 |
A clinical exercise specialist's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $130,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $130,000 | $10,833 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| Average | $62,387 | $5,199 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of clinical exercise specialists are director of cardiac rehabilitation, bariatric weight loss clinic manager and counselor, and clinical nurse specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologist | $49,399 | $4,117 | $23.75 | 38,633 |
| Clinical Exercise Physiologist | $53,276 | $4,440 | $25.61 | 108,099 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for clinical exercise specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Clinton Brawner Ph.D.
Clinical Exercise Physiology Core Laboratory Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital
Top companies hiring clinical exercise specialists now:
Clinical exercise specialist salaries at Novant Health and CaroMont Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical exercise specialist salary at companies like Spectrum Health and Williamsburg KY are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novant Health | $145,051 | $69.74 |
| 2 | CaroMont Health | $95,037 | $45.69 |
| 3 | Spectrum Health | $79,572 | $38.26 |
| 4 | Williamsburg KY | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| 5 | Baylor Scott & White Health | $52,570 | $25.27 |
The average clinical exercise specialist salary has risen by $1,439 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical exercise specialist earned $60,948 annually, but today, they earn $62,387 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for clinical exercise specialists over the last decade.
Compare clinical exercise specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare clinical exercise specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,400 | $29.99 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $61,000 | $29.33 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | $61,100 | $29.39 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | $60,900 | $29.28 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $58,700 | $28.24 | +0.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booz Allen Hamilton | Test, Training, and Exercise Professional | Chantilly, VA | 04/23/2025 | $69,400 |
| Sentara Healthcare | Clinical Exercise Specialist | Virginia Beach, VA | 03/24/2025 | $44,704 |
| Uacareers | Cyberapolis Exercise SME (Multiple Positions) | Sierra Vista, AZ | 09/26/2024 | $86,870 |
| Uacareers | Cyberapolis Exercise SME (Multiple Positions) | Sierra Vista, AZ | 09/10/2024 | $86,870 |
| University of Arizona | Cyberapolis Exercise SME (Multiple Positions) | Sierra Vista, AZ | 08/30/2024 | $86,870 |
| Citimed Complete Medical Care PC | Clinical Exercise Specialist | New York, NY | 05/20/2024 | $83,480 |
| Red Core PT PTA and Rehabilitation, PLLC | Clinical Exercise Specialist | New York | 05/18/2024 | $52,947 |
| University of North Texas System | Temporary Exercise Specialist-Foreverfit Clinic | Fort Worth, TX | 05/14/2024 | $45,267 |
| University of North Texas System | Temporary Exercise Specialist-Foreverfit Clinic | Fort Worth, TX | 05/14/2024 | $45,267 |
| Red Core PT PTA and Rehabilitation, PLLC | Clinical Exercise Specialist | New York, NY | 04/26/2024 | $52,947 |
Search for clinical exercise specialist jobs