Exercise Physiologists Salary
In Winston-Salem, NC, exercise physiologists earn $50,230 at the median, or about $24.15 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.04), which stretches that salary to about $54,574 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,232/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Winston-Salem?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Winston-Salem’s Regional Price Parity (92.04). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About exercise physiologists
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What this looks like in Winston-Salem
Pay for exercise physiologists in Winston-Salem runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,232/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.04 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for exercise physiologistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for exercise physiologists in metros near Winston-Salem, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $53K | $55K |
| Wilmington | $55K | $57K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $66K | $67K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $60K | $60K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Winston-Salem, NC
Entry-level exercise physiologists (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Exercise Physiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Exercise Physiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $81K | +37% | 160 |
| Oregon | $72K | +20% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +13% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $66K | +11% | 180 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +9% | 130 |
| Colorado | $64K | +7% | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | +7% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | +6% | 340 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +5% | 100 |
| California | $62K | +5% | 640 |
| Arizona | $62K | +5% | 220 |
| Maryland | $62K | +5% | 90 |
| Wyoming | $62K | +4% | N/A |
| Illinois | $60K | +1% | 300 |
| Florida | $60K | +1% | 330 |
| New York | $60K | +1% | 360 |
| Kansas | $59K | -1% | 60 |
| Georgia | $58K | -2% | 210 |
| Delaware | $58K | -3% | 90 |
| Texas | $57K | -5% | 520 |
| Idaho | $57K | -5% | 40 |
| Iowa | $57K | -5% | 50 |
| Nevada | $55K | -7% | N/A |
| Michigan | $55K | -7% | 570 |
| Tennessee | $54K | -10% | 140 |
| Missouri | $53K | -12% | 160 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -12% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $52K | -12% | 40 |
| Virginia | $52K | -12% | 240 |
| Ohio | $52K | -13% | 340 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -13% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $51K | -14% | 60 |
| Alabama | $51K | -15% | 70 |
| North Dakota | $50K | -15% | 50 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -15% | 60 |
| Indiana | $50K | -16% | 310 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -17% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -18% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -19% | 640 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -22% | 230 |
| Utah | $44K | -26% | 220 |
| Mississippi | $43K | -28% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track exercise physiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Winston-Salem numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a exercise physiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Winston-Salem?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,232/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for exercise physiologists in Winston-Salem?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new exercise physiologists typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,567/month. At HUD’s $1,232/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is exercise physiologist a high-paying job in Winston-Salem?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $50K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Winston-Salem compare to the national average for exercise physiologists?
Winston-Salem pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.04), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do exercise physiologists make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The median is $50,230 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,780, and experienced exercise physiologists can clear $63,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Winston-Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,345/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,232/month, which eats 36.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a exercise physiologists salary go in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 92.04 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median exercise physiologists salary is worth about $54,574 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do exercise physiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.