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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Professor of Exercise Science is $70,056 per year, or about $34 per hour. This compensation can vary significantly depending on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific institutional affiliation.
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher due to the cost of living and demand for qualified educators. For example, urban areas often offer salaries above the national average, with some professors earning over $80,000 annually. Conversely, rural regions may present lower salary offerings.
To gain a better understanding of potential earnings, consider examining the average salaries by state. For instance, states such as Texas and Florida also present competitive salary options for exercise science professors.
Positions are available in both academic and practical settings, including universities, colleges, and fitness organizations. As the field evolves, opportunities in research and specialized training programs are expanding, making this an excellent time to consider a career in exercise science.
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The highest-paying states for professors of exercise science are Utah, California, and Alaska. The lowest average professor of exercise science salary states are Kentucky, South Dakota, and Colorado.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $90,239 | $43.38 |
| 2 | Utah | $92,260 | $44.36 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $87,180 | $41.91 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $84,817 | $40.78 |
| 5 | Alaska | $90,415 | $43.47 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $89,382 | $42.97 |
| 7 | Oregon | $83,048 | $39.93 |
| 8 | New York | $86,703 | $41.68 |
| 9 | Michigan | $84,263 | $40.51 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $86,252 | $41.47 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $81,539 | $39.20 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $81,874 | $39.36 |
| 13 | Vermont | $79,004 | $37.98 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $76,574 | $36.81 |
| 15 | Missouri | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $82,957 | $39.88 |
| 17 | Virginia | $81,238 | $39.06 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $81,171 | $39.02 |
| 19 | Idaho | $77,043 | $37.04 |
| 20 | California | $91,309 | $43.90 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $75,308 | $36.21 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $78,606 | $37.79 |
| 23 | Washington | $80,098 | $38.51 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $80,253 | $38.58 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $73,675 | $35.42 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $73,922 | $35.54 |
| 27 | Indiana | $74,196 | $35.67 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $71,349 | $34.30 |
| 29 | Delaware | $76,235 | $36.65 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $71,910 | $34.57 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $71,769 | $34.50 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $73,524 | $35.35 |
| 33 | Iowa | $68,364 | $32.87 |
| 34 | Illinois | $71,410 | $34.33 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $59,137 | $28.43 |
| 36 | Arizona | $71,015 | $34.14 |
| 37 | Nevada | $66,510 | $31.98 |
| 38 | Georgia | $70,646 | $33.96 |
| 39 | Florida | $68,582 | $32.97 |
| 40 | Kansas | $66,569 | $32.00 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $53,275 | $25.61 |
| 42 | Montana | $54,884 | $26.39 |
| 43 | Alabama | $63,183 | $30.38 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $54,387 | $26.15 |
| 45 | Texas | $61,841 | $29.73 |
| 46 | Maryland | $64,211 | $30.87 |
| 47 | Colorado | $52,838 | $25.40 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $51,453 | $24.74 |
| 49 | Ohio | $59,305 | $28.51 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $51,958 | $24.98 |
The highest-paying cities for professors of exercise science are Stockton, CA, Orem, UT, and Anchorage, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $97,824 | $47.03 |
| 2 | Orem, UT | $91,957 | $44.21 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $91,092 | $43.79 |
| 4 | Omaha, NE | $87,181 | $41.91 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $86,900 | $41.78 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $86,512 | $41.59 |
| 7 | Lynchburg, VA | $78,106 | $37.55 |
| 8 | Wilmington, NC | $72,413 | $34.81 |
| 9 | Terre Haute, IN | $72,368 | $34.79 |
| 10 | Wilmette, IL | $72,029 | $34.63 |
| 11 | Peoria, AZ | $71,413 | $34.33 |
| 12 | Duluth, GA | $70,836 | $34.06 |
| 13 | West Palm Beach, FL | $68,617 | $32.99 |
| 14 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $63,062 | $30.32 |
| 15 | Huntington, WV | $57,105 | $27.45 |
| 16 | Greeley, CO | $52,947 | $25.46 |
A professor of exercise science's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $113,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $70,056 | $5,838 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
The highest paying types of professors of exercise science are professor, associate professor of health and exercise science, and exercise physiology professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
Top companies hiring professors of exercise science now:
Professor of exercise science salaries at Creighton University and The University of Alabama are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professor of exercise science salary at companies like University of Alaska and Florida International University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creighton University | $107,016 | $51.45 |
| 2 | The University of Alabama | $87,957 | $42.29 |
| 3 | University of Alaska | $85,952 | $41.32 |
| 4 | Florida International University | $84,284 | $40.52 |
| 5 | University of Mississippi | $84,179 | $40.47 |
| 6 | Syracuse University | $83,844 | $40.31 |
| 7 | Xponential Fitness | $81,120 | $39.00 |
| 8 | Wilson College | $80,381 | $38.64 |
| 9 | University Of South Dakota Foundation | $79,173 | $38.06 |
| 10 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center | $78,015 | $37.51 |
| 11 | University at Buffalo | $74,689 | $35.91 |
| 12 | Central Washington University | $73,428 | $35.30 |
| 13 | Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | $73,063 | $35.13 |
| 14 | Eastern Washington University | $72,536 | $34.87 |
| 15 | University of the Pacific | $71,213 | $34.24 |
| 16 | Grand Valley State University | $70,721 | $34.00 |
| 17 | University Of Nc At Wilmington | $69,753 | $33.54 |
| 18 | East Stroudsburg University | $69,526 | $33.43 |
| 19 | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | $69,033 | $33.19 |
| 20 | Arkansas State University, Mountain Home | $68,367 | $32.87 |
The average professor of exercise science salary has risen by $8,930 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professor of exercise science earned $61,126 annually, but today, they earn $70,056 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for professors of exercise science over the last decade.
Compare professor of exercise science salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare professor of exercise science salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $70,100 | $33.68 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $68,000 | $32.71 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $66,200 | $31.82 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $63,600 | $30.56 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $62,500 | $30.07 | -0.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island College | Assistant Professor of Exercise Science | Providence, RI | 06/12/2025 | $62,274 |
| Stretch Lab | Kinesiology/Exercise Science Graduate | Metairie, LA | 06/09/2025 | $37,566 |
| Suny Fredonia | Assistant Professor-Exercise Science-State University of New York at Fredonia | Fredonia, NY | 05/18/2025 | $50,000 |
| Stretch Lab | Kinesiology/Exercise Science Graduate | Metairie, LA | 05/18/2025 | $37,566 |
| Stretchlab | Exercise Science Graduates-NOW | Maple Grove, MN | 05/05/2025 | $52,175 |
| Stretch Lab | Kinesiology/Exercise Science Graduate | Metairie, LA | 03/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Assistant Professor of Exercise Science | Brookings, SD | 02/28/2025 | $72,000 |
| Southern Oregon University | Assistant Professor of Health and Exercise Science | Ione, OR | 02/28/2025 | $65,508 |
| Stretch Lab | Kinesiology/Exercise Science Graduate | Metairie, LA | 02/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association | Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Sport | Decatur, IL | 02/19/2025 | $50,000 |
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