Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary: Job Description
Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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What Tasks Do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The core tasks performed by recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary cover:
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Aquatic Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Athletic Instructor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 534,840 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +11.6% over the projection horizon.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $84,688 |
| Hourly median | $40.72 |
| 10th percentile | $52,580 |
| 25th percentile | $68,634 |
| 75th percentile | $100,743 |
| 90th percentile | $116,797 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $130,340 |
| Arizona | $94,660 |
| New York | $82,770 |
| Nebraska | $82,400 |
| Idaho | $82,220 |
| Maryland | $81,110 |
| Michigan | $80,310 |
| Massachusetts | $80,270 |
| Tennessee | $79,410 |
| South Carolina | $78,280 |
| Minnesota | $77,080 |
| Missouri | $76,890 |
| Illinois | $75,840 |
| Texas | $75,570 |
| Oregon | $75,180 |
| New Mexico | $75,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,390 |
| Connecticut | $71,180 |
| New Jersey | $69,550 |
| Oklahoma | $69,270 |
| Florida | $68,140 |
| Washington | $66,840 |
| Alabama | $66,270 |
| New Hampshire | $66,160 |
| Wyoming | $65,460 |
| Wisconsin | $65,070 |
| Maine | $64,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $64,520 |
| West Virginia | $64,430 |
| Iowa | $64,230 |
| Mississippi | $64,160 |
| Indiana | $63,960 |
| Louisiana | $63,510 |
| North Carolina | $63,450 |
| Georgia | $63,260 |
| Kentucky | $63,190 |
| Colorado | $62,530 |
| Arkansas | $61,490 |
| Ohio | $61,090 |
| North Dakota | $60,130 |
| South Dakota | $59,980 |
| Kansas | $59,070 |
| Virginia | $57,930 |
| Utah | $55,770 |
Where Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Compensation for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $115,522 | 20.4% | 1.38 |
| Middle Atlantic | $77,313 | 14.0% | 0.97 |
| Southwest | $76,163 | 13.6% | 1.18 |
| New England | $75,074 | 4.3% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $70,608 | 6.3% | 1.03 |
| Great Lakes | $69,727 | 14.5% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $65,826 | 22.9% | 1.48 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $64,520 | 0.3% | 0.50 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $143,060 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $136,970 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $132,210 | 780 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $130,410 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $127,900 | 230 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $118,390 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | IL | $101,620 | 110 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $99,600 | 80 |
Industry Breakdown
Most recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 12,680 | n/a |
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary work in the following industries:
Software Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Primary-Long)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness Studies, and Kinesiology
4 programs across 2 majors
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1193.00 (Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary).