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 Do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary span:
- 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 important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Professor
- Aquatic Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Athletic Instructor
- College Faculty Member
- College Professor
How Many Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 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.
How Much Do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| 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 |
Wages vary widely 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Below are examples of industries where recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary work:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
How to Become Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Where to Study
Aspiring recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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).