CEPA 2020 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practice Survey

Background: The Clinical Exercise Physiology Association first conducted a clinical exercise physiology practice survey in 2010, with a goal to repeat it every 5 y. The purpose of this survey was to collect updated data on employment, including salary, scope of work, patient population, and job responsibilities among practicing clinical exercise physiologists (CEP). Methods: The 2020 survey was disseminated by email and through social media to attract a wide range of individuals who reported working as a CEP. Results: In total, data from 776 individuals who responded to the survey were analyzed, which is less participants than in the 2010 and 2015 surveys. The median salary was $56,251, $7,500 higher than that of 2015. Those with a master's degree and clinical certification had higher median salaries compared with those without certification. There was a difference in median salary by sex, with women earning $7,500 less than men did. When mean hourly salary was adjusted for years of experience and academic degree, the difference by sex remained. Conclusion: Median salary for CEPs surveyed increased between 2015 and 2020. Data revealed benefits from obtaining a clinical certification and an advanced degree for greater compensation. Data also show a discrepancy in salary based on sex. It is unclear how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic affected the current survey results.