Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs With a Kinesiology Degree

A kinesiology degree provides a strong foundation in human movement, anatomy, and exercise science, opening the door to a wide range of careers in healthcare, fitness, and sports. While some paths are reachable with the bachelor's degree alone, many of the highest-paying careers connected to kinesiology require additional schooling, certification, or licensure built on top of that foundation.

Keep reading as we highlight 10 of the highest-paying careers connected to a kinesiology degree, based on current salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Each entry notes the typical education path required beyond the kinesiology degree itself, since understanding that additional investment is essential to setting realistic expectations for this list.

Salary Disclaimer: The salary ranges provided in this article are estimates based on national averages. Actual earnings may vary depending on location, employer, level of experience, and industry demand.

What Can You Do With a Kinesiology Degree? 

A kinesiology degree serves as a versatile launching point rather than a direct path to a single career. Graduates can pursue entry-level fitness and wellness roles right away, or use the degree as a foundation for further education in fields like physical therapy, occupational therapy, or medicine.

It's worth being upfront about something important for this particular list: nearly every career included here requires education or training beyond the kinesiology bachelor's degree itself, whether that's a graduate program, a doctoral degree, or professional certification. Only one entry on this list, occupational health and safety specialist, is typically reachable with the bachelor's degree alone. If you're looking specifically for careers that don't require further schooling, roles like exercise physiologist or fitness and wellness coordinator are worth researching, though they don't rank among the highest-paying options covered here.

Highest-Paying Jobs With a Kinesiology Degree

Each career below builds on a foundation in kinesiology, though most require additional education or certification beyond the bachelor's degree itself. Each entry notes the typical path forward and current median pay based on BLS data. 

1. Sports Medicine Physician

A kinesiology degree provides strong preparation for medical school, particularly for students interested in sports medicine, a specialty within family medicine, orthopedics, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. Reaching this career requires four years of medical school and three to seven years of residency, often followed by an additional one- to two-year sports medicine fellowship.

According to the most recent BLS data, physicians and surgeons earn a median well above $239,200 annually, with sports medicine physicians typically falling within that broader range depending on setting and patient population. Because this path requires the same rigorous medical school admissions process as any other specialty, a kinesiology degree alone doesn't guarantee acceptance, though its focus on anatomy and physiology can provide relevant coursework.

2. Physician Assistant

A kinesiology degree's coursework in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics provides a strong foundation for physician assistant programs, which typically require two to three years of graduate study following a bachelor's degree. PA programs also require documented healthcare experience hours before admission, which kinesiology graduates often gain through work as an athletic trainer, exercise physiologist, or similar role.

According to the most recent BLS data, physician assistants earn a median of roughly $135,900 annually. This field is projected to grow much faster than average, making it one of the more promising paths for kinesiology graduates interested in clinical healthcare work.

3. Medical and Health Services Manager

A kinesiology degree can lead into healthcare management, particularly for graduates interested in overseeing fitness centers, rehabilitation clinics, or sports medicine practices. This path typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in healthcare administration, along with several years of relevant healthcare or clinical experience.

According to the most recent BLS data, medical and health services managers earn a median of roughly $123,900 annually. Because this role usually requires substantial prior healthcare experience, kinesiology graduates interested in this path often start in a clinical or administrative support role before advancing into full management.

4. Physical Therapist

A kinesiology degree is one of the most common undergraduate paths into physical therapy, given its heavy overlap in coursework covering anatomy, biomechanics, and human movement. Becoming a physical therapist requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), which typically takes three years to complete after a bachelor's degree.

The most recent BLS data shows physical therapists earn a median of roughly $102,800 annually. This field is projected to grow much faster than average, reflecting rising demand for rehabilitative care as the population ages, making it one of the more natural next steps for kinesiology graduates.

5. Occupational Therapist

A kinesiology degree also provides relevant preparation for occupational therapy, which focuses on helping patients regain the skills needed for daily living and working after injury, illness, or disability. This path requires a master's degree, or increasingly a clinical doctorate, typically taking two to three years after a bachelor's degree.

According to the most recent BLS data, occupational therapists earn a median of roughly $100,300 annually. Because many occupational therapy programs have shifted toward the doctoral level in recent years, kinesiology graduates should research current program requirements at schools they're considering.

6. Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Of all the careers on this list, occupational health and safety specialist is the one most directly reachable with a kinesiology degree alone, since the role draws on the same understanding of biomechanics and physical strain that's central to the major. This role focuses on identifying and reducing workplace injury risks, particularly relevant in physically demanding industries.

According to the most recent BLS data, occupational health and safety specialists earn a median of roughly $90,150 annually. Because this role exists across many industries, not just healthcare or fitness, kinesiology graduates interested in this path may want to seek out internships or coursework focused on ergonomics or workplace safety specifically.

7. Chiropractor

A kinesiology degree's focus on musculoskeletal anatomy and human movement makes it a common undergraduate path into chiropractic care. Becoming a chiropractor requires a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, which typically takes four years to complete after a bachelor's degree.

According to the most recent BLS data, chiropractors earn a median of roughly $79,200 annually. Because most chiropractors work in private practice, kinesiology graduates interested in this path may also want to consider coursework in business, since running a practice involves skills beyond clinical training alone.

8. Occupational Therapy Assistant

For kinesiology graduates who want to enter the workforce faster than a full occupational therapy program allows, becoming an occupational therapy assistant offers a quicker path into similar rehabilitative work. This role requires an associate degree, which most kinesiology graduates can complete in about a year given their existing coursework overlap.

The most recent BLS data shows occupational therapy assistants earn a median of roughly $72,300 annually. This role works under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, making it a common stepping stone for those who may want to pursue the full OT credential later.

9. Physical Therapist Assistant

Similarly, a physical therapist assistant role offers kinesiology graduates a faster path into rehabilitative work without the multi-year commitment of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This role also requires an associate degree, typically completable in about a year given a kinesiology background.

According to the most recent BLS data, physical therapist assistants earn a median of roughly $68,400 annually. Like the occupational therapy assistant role, this position works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and can serve as a stepping stone toward a full PT credential later.

10. Athletic Trainer

Athletic training is one of the most directly connected careers to a kinesiology degree, focusing on injury prevention, evaluation, and treatment for athletes and physically active patients. As of 2022, entry into this field requires a master's degree rather than a bachelor's degree, following an accreditation change from the profession's governing body.

The most recent BLS data shows athletic trainers earn a median of roughly $62,500 annually. Because the educational requirement for this field changed relatively recently, kinesiology graduates should confirm current program and licensure requirements in their state before pursuing this path.

How to Choose a Career Path With a Kinesiology Degree

With so many possible directions, narrowing down a specific career path can feel overwhelming. Consider the following as you weigh your options:

• How much further schooling you're willing to pursue: The highest-paying careers on this list generally require the most additional education, from a two-year master's to a full medical degree. Be honest with yourself about your appetite for more schooling before committing to a direction.
• Clinical vs. non-clinical work: Careers like physical therapist and occupational therapist involve direct, hands-on patient care, while roles like medical and health services manager or occupational health and safety specialist focus more on management and systems-level work.
• Timeline to start working: If you want to enter the workforce as quickly as possible, associate-level paths like physical therapist assistant or occupational therapy assistant offer a faster route than a doctoral-level career.
• Whether you want to work directly in fitness and sports, or move toward broader healthcare: Some paths, like athletic training, stay closely tied to sports and physical activity, while others, like physician assistant or medical and health services manager, lead into broader healthcare settings.

Talking to professionals currently working in a specific role, or shadowing them if possible, can also help you get a realistic sense of the day-to-day work before committing to a particular path.

Do You Need Further Education for These Careers?

For most of the careers on this list, yes. A kinesiology bachelor's degree provides the foundational coursework in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics that many of these fields build on, but nearly every career here requires additional education, certification, or licensure to actually practice.

The specific requirement varies significantly by career. Associate-level paths, like physical therapist assistant and occupational therapy assistant, require the least additional schooling, often completable in about a year given a kinesiology background. Master's-level paths, like physician assistant, occupational therapy, and athletic training, typically require two to three additional years. Doctoral-level paths, like physical therapy, chiropractic care, and medicine, require the most significant additional investment, ranging from three years for a DPT to a decade or more, including residency, for a career in sports medicine.

Occupational health and safety specialist stands out as the one career on this list typically reachable with the kinesiology bachelor's degree alone, though even in this field, additional certifications can strengthen a candidate's qualifications and pay potential.

FAQs About High-Paying Jobs With a Kinesiology Degree

Here are answers to a few common questions about high-paying careers with a kinesiology degree.

What Do Exercise Physiologists Make?

Exercise physiologists earn a median of roughly $59,500 annually, according to the most recent BLS data. While this is one of the few careers reachable with a kinesiology bachelor's degree alone, it doesn't rank among the highest-paying options covered in this list, which generally require additional education beyond the bachelor's.

What's the Highest-Paying Career With a Kinesiology Degree?

Sports medicine physician leads the list by a wide margin, with physicians and surgeons earning a median well above $239,200 annually. This path requires the longest educational commitment on this list, including medical school, residency, and often a sports medicine fellowship.

Can You Get a High-Paying Job With Just a Kinesiology Bachelor's Degree?

It's possible, but options are limited. Occupational health and safety specialist is the only career on this list typically reachable with the bachelor's degree alone. Most other high-paying paths connected to kinesiology require a master's, doctoral, or professional degree built on top of that foundation.

Which Careers on This List Have the Fastest Path to Employment?

Physical therapist assistant and occupational therapy assistant offer the fastest path, since both only require an associate degree, which most kinesiology graduates can complete in about a year given their existing coursework overlap.

Is Kinesiology a Good Major If I Want to Go to Medical School?

Yes, kinesiology can be a strong pre-med major, since it covers relevant coursework in anatomy and physiology. That said, admission to medical school depends on much more than your major, including your MCAT score, GPA, and clinical experience, so kinesiology alone doesn't guarantee acceptance.

Do I Need to Decide My Career Path Before Choosing Kinesiology as a Major?

No. Kinesiology is intentionally broad, and many students use their undergraduate years to explore different paths, whether that's through internships, research opportunities, or coursework, before committing to a specific graduate program or career direction.

Find High-Paying Jobs With a Kinesiology Degree

A kinesiology degree can start you on the path toward a number of high-paying careers. To find out more about kinesiology degrees, explore the programs and resources featured on Learn.org.