by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 118 U.S. colleges awarded 1,451 degrees and certificates in Physical Fitness Technician. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 44 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Fitness Technician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,357 one year after completing, rising to $56,191 after four years.
Studying Physical Fitness Technician involves the study of Physical Fitness Technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals For Employment In Health And Fitness Clubs, Wellness Centers, Public And Private Recreation Facilities, Hospitals And Corporate Fitness Programs Where They Will Perform A Variety Of Instructional And Administrative Duties. Includes Instruction In Human Anatomy And Physiology, Fitness Techniques, Exercise Science, Personal Training, Nutrition, And Customer Service. Examples: [Fitness Technician], [Fitness Trainer], [Personal Trainer].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, physical fitness technician is a popular field of study, with 1,451 degrees awarded annually. 118 colleges award physical fitness technician degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 108.
By level, the 1,451 awards include 95 certificates, 139 associate degrees, 275 bachelor’s degrees and 904 master’s degrees.
Women earned 54% of physical fitness technician degrees and certificates in the latest year (785 of 1,451). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (635) and Hispanic or Latino (376), and international students earned 29.
College Factual ranks 44 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Fitness Technician Schools ranking, including 14 for associate degrees and 12 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks physical fitness technician schools within 8 states. In all, 118 colleges offer physical fitness technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physical Fitness Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physical fitness technician credential is the master’s degree: 904 of the 1,451 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physical fitness technician call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Judgment and Decision Making, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Speech Clarity.
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How long a physical fitness technician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 95 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 139 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 275 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 904 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical fitness technician, at 49.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Physical Fitness Technician, with an average median salary of $67,138. Typical job titles include Fitness Specialist, Personal Trainer, Clinical Athletic Instructor and Women’s Athletic Trainer.
The occupation related to physical fitness technician with the most projected jobs is Athletic Trainers, at 316,011.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | 316,011 | -0.3% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Physical Fitness Technician graduates earn a median $34,357 one year after completing their program, $56,191 after four years and $55,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,357 |
| 4 years | $56,191 |
| 5 years | $55,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to physical fitness technician, with a median salary of $79,834.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | $79,834 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
Physical Fitness Technician has 5 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 66,719 degrees a year; the largest are Exercise Science and Kinesiology (32,999), Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (18,948) and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (13,141). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 32,999 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 18,948 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General | 13,141 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other | 1,059 |
| Sports Studies | 572 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
