Career Explorer Healthcare (clinical)
Human edge, growing
Exercise physiologists
Assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 82% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +12.8% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and creative vision.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $59,460
- Job growth to 2035
- +12.8%
- Openings a year
- 1,400
- People doing it (2025)
- 21,200
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Explain medical information to patients or family members
- Advise patients or clients on medical issues
- Analyze health or medical data
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Train others on health or medical topics
- Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient health
- Operate medical equipment
What the work looks like
- Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
- Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
- Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
- Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
- Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- AcupuncturistsHuman edge, growing, Index 85, +8.6%
- Occupational therapistsGrows with AI, Index 84, +14.8%
- Recreational therapistsHuman edge, growing, Index 90, +4.8%
- Orthotists and prosthetistsHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +12.9%
Also known as: Bariatric Weight Loss Counselor, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist, Clinical Cardiac Exercise Physiologist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Practitioner, Certified Exercise Physiologist (Certified EP), Clinical Exercise Specialist, Exercise Scientist.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.