High-Salary Fitness Careers

Careers in fitness are exciting, interesting, and can be very rewarding if you enjoy helping other people achieve their goals. Fitness careers are very popular for people who have always maintained a physical lifestyle or for those who want a career that will help them stay in shape. Most people who go into fitness jobs have an athletic background. There are many different kinds of fitness jobs that focus on different areas of the fitness field, and several of them come with high salaries.

  1. Athletic Trainer

    • Athletic trainers help athletes train to the best of their ability in a safe manner. Trainers focus on conditioning to prevent injuries and help the athletes build up endurance. Athletic trainers are always near athletes when they are performing their sport so they can assist in the event of an injury and help diagnose the problem or help the athlete perform better.

      A career as an athletic trainer requires a bachelor's degree, and some positions may require certification by the National Athletic Trainers Association. Trainers without a certificate usually start off making $25,000 per year; however, a professional team athletic trainer can earn up to $150,000 per year. Pay varies depending on certification, advanced degrees and experience in the field.

    Physical Therapist

    • A physical therapist is a certified, state-licensed professional who has graduated from an approved physical therapy school. Physical therapists evaluate an athlete's injuries and develop treatment, help in the rehabilitation process, perform testing, or create exercise programs to help the athlete recover from their injury. Physical therapists typically have a bachelor's or master's degree. Depending on degree level and experience, they may earn approximately $50,000 per year.

    Strength and Conditioning Coach

    • Strength and conditioning coaches create strength and conditioning exercises to help athletes recover from injury, or to help them build strength, flexibility, and endurance so that they can perform at their peak. These coaches typically earn salaries of $60,000 to $80,000 per year depending on level of education and experience.

    Sports Physician

    • Sports physicians are responsible for athletes' health and safety. They perform exams to assess the extent of an athlete's injuries and determine if an athlete is ready to return to their sport, join a new team, or start a new fitness program. Sports physicians also communicate with coaches and trainers regarding an athlete's health. This career requires a medical degree and average salaries for sports physicians are around $150,000.

    Sports Psychologist

    • Sports psychologists attend to athletes' mental health. This role is extremely important because sports are not just physical but also mental. Improving athletes' mental health can lead to better athletic performance as well as a sense of overall well being. Sports psychologists are required to have a master's degree or a doctorate in clinical psychology or sports psychology. They generally earn $50,000 to $100,000 per year.