Kinesiology careers
Improve health and well-being through movement
Careers in kinesiology
If you're interested in staying active, understanding how the body moves, or helping others live healthier lives, a career in kinesiology and exercise science could be a great fit.
This field offers pathways to meaningful roles, from promoting fitness and well-being to supporting individuals through rehabilitation or adaptive exercise.
Values and interests
If any of these values and interests sound like you, then a career in kinesiology and exercise science might be a great fit.
Values
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Maintaining an active lifestyle
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Helping others improve quality of life
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Respect for individual differences and abilities
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Ethical practice and scientific integrity
Interests
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Promoting active lifestyles
- Human body and the mechanics of movement
- How research can inform exercise, rehabilitation and sports performance
- Sports performance and athletic development
- Teaching and educating others about health and fitness
Employers of OSU grads
With a kinesiology degree, you can pursue careers in fitness, coaching or rehabilitation, or continue your education to become a physical therapist, occupational therapist or other health care professional.
Kinesiology and exercise science career pathways
Recent jobs in kinesiology or graduate programs secured by our undergraduate alumni:
Now: Personal trainer, Timberhill Athletic Club
Job titles
- Athletic program manager
- Coach
- Exercise physiologist
- Lead personal trainer
- Personal trainer
Organizations
Athletics
- Oregon State University
Athletic clubs
- Fitness Over 50
- Synapse Fitness Foundation
- Timberhill Athletic Club
- YMCA
Corporate wellness
- Exos
- HealthFitness
- Optum Plus One
Physical therapy and rehabilitation centers
- North Lake Physical Therapy
- Samaritan Health Services
- Therapeutic Associates
Youth development
- Boys and Girls Club
- Corvallis School District
Next step: Nursing school, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Now: Registered nurse, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge Postpartum Care
Athletic training programs
- Cal State Fullerton
- Johns Hopkins
- Oregon State University
Medical programs
- Oregon Health and Sciences University
- Western University of Health Sciences
Nursing programs
- George Washington University
- Johns Hopkins
- Oregon Health and Sciences University
Occupational therapy programs
- George Fox University
- Northern Arizona University
- University of Puget Sound
Physical therapy programs
- Duke University
- George Fox University
- OSU–Cascades
- Pacific University
- University of Southern California
Career outlook
Kinesiology careers offer strong job growth, with opportunities to advance into specialized fields. While entry-level salaries vary, experience and certifications can lead to higher earnings in areas such as sports performance, physical rehabilitation and corporate wellness.
Entry level jobs that only require a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology:
Personal trainer
$61,014
Annual average salary
ZipRecruiter
14% growth
Job outlook 2023-33
BLS
Kinesiology internships
Kinesiology internships are integrated into your coursework so you can be prepared for a full-time position upon graduation.
Many Oregon State kinesiology graduates secure positions where they interned.
What do recent kinesiology graduates say?
Career in personal training
“With my kinesiology degree, I earned my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification and have been providing training since.
I work with a vastly diverse population ranging from youth building a movement foundation to athletes training to enhance their performance to functional fitness for all levels.”
Mason Morgan, ’22
Majored in: Kinesiology
Now: Personal trainer, Timberhill Athletic Club
Olivia Miller, ’24
Majored in: Kinesiology - Pre-therapy and allied health
Next step: Doctorate program in occupational therapy, University of Puget Sound
Future occupational therapist
“I have always been interested in the medical field — figuring out why people move and work the way they do is so fascinating!
Occupational therapy specifically allows me to do something different every day and drives me to be creative, which I love.”
Future physical therapist
“After a seven-week trial run studying engineering, I realized my interest in fitness and the human body was worth pursuing. I switched to kinesiology and immediately knew it was the right decision.
I decided that becoming a physical therapist was the path for me because it combines my curiosity about physical fitness and human anatomy with my mechanical and engineering mindset.”
Riley Acott, '23
Majored in: Kinesiology - Pre-therapy and allied health
Next step: Doctorate program in physical therapy, University of Illinois Chicago
Kyle DeRosia, PhD ’24
Majored in: PhD Kinesiology
Now: Exercise scientist and Human Performance Lab supervisor, Seattle University
In-depth kinesiology education
“As the supervisor of a human performance lab, I oversee all aspects of its operation, including research, teaching and equipment maintenance.
The kinesiology doctoral program at OSU provided ample hands-on laboratory experience, and its coursework covered nearly every subdiscipline of kinesiology, which has been instrumental to my success in this role.”
Start your kinesiology career journey
Majoring in kinesiology opens pathways to dynamic and in-demand careers where you can improve health and well-being through movement.
Beyond fitness and rehabilitation, kinesiology graduates apply their expertise in corporate wellness, public health, research, and even business roles like health technology and sports marketing.
Kinesiology-pre-therapy and allied health undergraduate degree option
Offered in Corvallis. This option meets all the prerequisites for Oregon State's MS in athletic training and PhD in physical therapy programs.
