What to Do With a Physical Education Degree
2 min read
What Can I Do With a Major in Physical Education?
Physical education majors most commonly work as teachers at the elementary school, middle school, and high school levels.
Approximately 60% of all graduates with physical education degrees work in occupations that are closely related to their field of study, while 40% choose to work in areas unrelated to their major. Graduates who work in unrelated areas commonly work in sales, insurance, real estate, management, and administrative positions.
Some graduates work as personal trainers, where they are able to use their fitness and coaching training to help people achieve their health and fitness goals. Many personal trainers are self-employed, making it a great occupation for entrepreneurs who love to inspire a passion for fitness in others.
Physical education majors make a median salary of $46,000 per year, which is about 17% less than the median salary of all college graduates combined. By the time they reach retirement age, physical education graduates earn a median salary of $55,800 per year.
While the salary numbers are a good guide, don’t put too much emphasis on them. The overall median salaries are brought down significantly by the large percentage of physical education majors who work as teachers. Graduates who enter high level sales positions frequently make salaries in excess of $80,000 per year. Remember, the amount of money that you make is rarely determined by your major. Instead, it’s determined by the direction you take with your career.
Careers for Physical Education Majors
Below is a list of occupations that physical education majors commonly work in. This is not a comprehensive list, but it should give you an idea of the types of work that graduates commonly find.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Median Hourly | Current jobs | Outlook | Required Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainer | $41,600 | $20.00 | 16,350 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Chiropractor | $67,200 | $32.31 | 49,100 | Good | Doctoral degree |
| Coach / Scout | $28,340 | $13.63 | 242,900 | Good | Graduate Degree |
| College Professor | $62,050 | $29.83 | 1,756,000 | Good | Graduate Degree |
| Elementary School Teacher | $51,660 | $24.84 | 1,549,520 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Fitness Trainer | $31,090 | $14.95 | 261,150 | Good | Varies |
| High School Teacher | $53,230 | $25.59 | 1,109,500 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Middle School Teacher | $51,960 | $24.98 | 659,460 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Nutritionist | $53,250 | $25.60 | 60,260 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Occupational Therapist | $72,320 | $34.77 | 104,500 | Good | Master’s Degree |
| Physical Therapist | $76,310 | $36.69 | 185,500 | Good | Master’s Degree |
| Recreation Worker | $22,260 | $10.70 | 327,530 | Good | On the job training |
| Recreational Therapist | $39,410 | $18.95 | 23,280 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Umpire / Referee | $22,840 | $10.98 | 19,500 | Normal | Varies |
