by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Physical Education Teaching & Coaching covers Physical Education Teaching And Coaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Physical Education Programs And/or To Coach Sports At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the key facts every physical education teaching & coaching student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physical education teaching & coaching programs.
Nationwide, physical education teaching & coaching is a popular field of study, with 6,964 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physical Education Teaching & Coaching Schools ranking analyzes these 439 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical education teaching & coaching students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical education teaching & coaching programs later in this article.
Coursework for Physical Education Teaching & Coaching build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physical education teaching & coaching graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a physical education teaching & coaching program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a physical education teaching & coaching major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physical education teaching & coaching degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 62 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 210 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,649 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,885 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 31 |
People currently working in careers related to physical education teaching & coaching tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.9% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physical education teaching & coaching careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in physical education teaching & coaching prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to physical education teaching & coaching.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical education teaching & coaching.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of physical education teaching & coaching graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physical education teaching & coaching graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physical education teaching & coaching grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
With 439 different physical education teaching & coaching programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physical education teaching & coaching school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in physical education teaching & coaching, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
