| Job Name | Education Needed | Average Annual Salary (2018* or 2019**) |
|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | Bachelor's degree | $61,210* |
| Health Educators | Bachelor's degree | $59,660* |
| Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors | High school diploma | $44,580* |
| Personal Trainer with Nutrition Skills | High school diploma | $38,254** |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Bachelor's degree | $40,174** |
| Dietetic Technicians | Associate's degree | $38,398** |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **Payscale.com
Degrees in Fitness and Nutrition
Fitness and nutrition degree programs and certificate programs are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These programs help prepare students for a variety of nutrition- and fitness-related careers. Explore some of the available degree programs in more detail below.
Undergraduate Degrees
Students can pursue education in nutrition with undergraduate certificate programs, associate's, and/or bachelor's degree programs. These programs may go by different names or have different focuses, such as an associate's degree program in nutrition science, or a bachelor's degree in holistic nutrition. Many of these degree programs are available in online formats.
Students more interested in fitness can also pursue undergraduate certificate programs, associate's, and/or bachelor's degree programs in the field. Some examples include an undergraduate certificate in personal training or fitness and nutrition, an associate's degree in applied exercise and fitness, and a bachelor's degree in professional fitness training and exercise science or fitness and wellness. Many of these degree programs are also available in online formats.
Graduate Degrees
At the graduate level, certificate programs are available in areas like nutrition and physical activity and nutrition. There are several different master's degree programs available in nutrition, including nutritional sciences and dietetics. There are also doctoral degree programs available in nutrition, and although they do not typically allow students to complete them fully online, there are some hybrid PhD programs in nutrition available.
Fitness degree programs at the master's and doctoral levels are more common in the field of exercise science. However, there are some master's degree programs in areas like wellness and fitness and doctoral programs in areas such as exercise and nutritional sciences. Some master's programs may be available in online formats, but most doctoral programs are on-campus.
What Jobs in the Fitness and Nutrition Industry Do
Although specific job duties vary by position, most careers in the fitness and nutrition industry aim to help people improve their overall wellness through diet and exercise. Many of these positions work to educate their clients or patients and find health plans that work well for them. Some other job duties for professionals in the fitness and nutrition industry may include:
- Developing and implementing health programs
- Assessing and monitoring clients' health needs
- Conducting health-related research
- Providing clients with nutrition- and other health-related information and resources
