Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary is a professional role within the function in the Educational Instruction and Library job family.
Typical entry preparation: Doctoral Degree and 5 or more years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
What Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondarys do
Typical education: Doctoral Degree
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.
Top skills:SpeakingInstructingWritingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience level
Entry level$46,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$62,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$80,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$105,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$139,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary by industry
Educational Services
12,630 workers
$89,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
9,090 workers
$81,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
6,330 workers
$83,500
Junior Colleges
3,480 workers
$111,500
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
3,250 workers
$114,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
3,050 workers
$76,500
Other Schools and Instruction$64,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pays 1% above the average across 65 roles in the Educational Instruction and Library job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Educational Instruction and Library
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary make?
The average base salary for a Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States is $89,500 per year, or about $43.03 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $62,000 and $105,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Educational Instruction and Library roles?
The Educational Instruction and Library job family averages $88,500 across 65 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
