Best Physically Active Jobs

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Best-Paying Physically Active Jobs
Entry-Level Physically Active Jobs
Work-From-Home Physically Active Jobs
What to Look for in Jobs That Require Physical Activity
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
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For people who live an active and healthy lifestyle, a career that incorporates regular physical activity and allows employees to get moving throughout their workday can be both a rewarding and lucrative opportunity.

There are countless jobs and career paths that incorporate physical activity and exercise, keeping job-seekers healthy at work and at home.

Besides the obvious professional athlete and personal trainer roles, there are a surprising amount of occupations across a variety of professional industries that require prolonged movement and an astonishing amount of healthy physical activity and active exercise.

Best-Paying Physically Active Jobs

You don’t need to work in an office or be glued to your computer screen behind a desk to earn the big bucks. Many careers that require employees to get moving, stay active, and engage in varying levels of exercise and physical activity, come with a pretty high salary.

By finding a high-paying and physically active job, you’ll be well on your way to reaching financial stability while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle and doing rewarding work that closely aligns with your professional goals and ambitions.

Here are the top five best-paying occupations that require regular physical activity while on the clock:

Dental Hygienist
Average Annual Salary: $78,000

Dental hygienists earn more than $76,000 per year, on average, providing preventative dental care and oral hygiene to patients. As the country’s population continues to age and a bigger emphasis is placed on oral health, dental hygienists are in high demand.

Not only is the gig one of the best-paid jobs in Arizona, but it also promotes physical activity and fosters a healthy lifestyle.

The role requires a decent amount of standing, excellent interpersonal skills, and impeccable attention to detail. To get a job working as a dental hygienist, you’ll need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene and a state license to practice.

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Correction Officer
Average Annual Salary: $40,000

Correctional officers work in jails and prisons and supervise people who have been arrested, are awaiting trial, or have been sentenced to serve time behind bars. The job is extremely physically demanding and strenuous and can be pretty dangerous as well, especially during confrontations with inmates.

Working as a correctional officer certainly isn’t for everyone, but it can be a lucrative career choice for former police officers or people interested in law enforcement and security.

In order to become a correctional officer and earn an average of more than $45,000 per year, you’ll need to make it through a vigorous training program and have, at least, a high school diploma.

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Construction Supervisor
Average Annual Salary: $60,000

Working on a construction site is one of the most physically demanding and intense jobs out there. Construction supervisors oversee all activities at a construction worksite, manage strenuous projects, and engage in intense manual labor.

For people who enjoy being outside and working with their hands, a job as a construction supervisor could be a great career option. Construction supervisors and managers make, on average, more than $95,000 annually and are usually required to have a bachelor’s degree and previous construction experience.

Working as a construction worker, one of the ten fastest-growing jobs in Arizona, is a great way of gaining on-the-job experience and can help you land a high-paying position as a construction supervisor.

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Postsecondary Teacher
Average Annual Salary: $47,000

Teachers of all levels typically spend most of their workday on their feet, engaging in moderate physical activity. Postsecondary teachers are tasked with teaching students beyond the high school level and most commonly work at colleges, universities, and professional schools.

Health benefits and a heavy salary and are some of the best job perks of working as a postsecondary teacher. According to labor statistics, postsecondary teachers can earn, on average, nearly $80,000 per year, making them some of the best-paid professionals in Arkansas.
Installation and repair technician
Average Annual Salary: $25,000

Installation and repair workers specialize in a variety of disciplines and work to install or repair different equipment and machinery. The job can be back-breaking work since it typically requires intense physical activity.

Installation and repair workers can work in numerous industries. Some of the most popular installation and repair jobs include aircraft technicians, motor vehicle mechanics, electricians, general maintenance workers, heating, air conditioning, and electronics installers, and industrial machinery mechanics.

The U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated the annual wage of all installation and repair workers to be just under $50,000, but there’s potential to make much more than that depending on your area of specialization.

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Entry-Level Physically Active Jobs

For people just out of college, in the middle of a career change, or simply on the hunt for a perfect entry-level job, there are plenty of roles that incorporate regular activity on the job and require little to no previous work experience.

While some of the best entry-level jobs that promote a physically active lifestyle do require training or certification courses, the majority of them are attainable with a high school diploma.

The top five entry-level jobs to become more physically active are as follows:

Licensed Practical Nurse
Average Annual Salary: $45,000

Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, provide the most nursing care to patients, including helping with bathing and toileting, assisting with basic medical tests and procedures, changing dressings, inserting catheters, and monitoring vital signs.

Licensed practical nurses are required to be on their feet throughout the workday and exert a fair amount of physical activity when assisting patients. To become a licensed practical nurse and earn an average of more than $47,000 per year, you’ll need to complete a state-approved licensure program, which could take up to one year.

If you’re interested in the healthcare industry, an entry-level LPN position is a great way to gain experience and break into the nursing field. Throughout on-the-job training and additional schooling, licensed practical nurses can go on to become registered nurses or even nurse practitioners, one of the best-paid careers in Alaska.

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Hair stylist
Average Annual Salary: $36,000

Working as a hairstylist is a fun and active career opportunity for professionals interested in the cosmetology and beauty industries. Barbers and hairstylists spend the majority of their workdays standing up, cutting and styling hair, and interacting with clients.

The gig requires state licensure, so most successful hairdressers attend a state-approved cosmetology program before securing work in the industry.

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Dog Walker
Average Annual Salary: $23,000

If you’re an animal lover, working as a dog walker could be right up your alley. Dog walkers typically work part-time — although depending on the location, a full-time gig could be possible — and help people who are traveling or at the office care for their pets throughout the day.

Dog walkers stay active by taking brisk walks and playing games like fetch with the furry four-legged friends they care for. The only real requirements to become a successful dog walker are trustworthiness, reliability, and a love for animals, which makes it a great entry-level role and one of the top ten best jobs for senior citizens.

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Landscaper or Groundskeeper
Average Annual Salary: $26,000

If you love spending time outside in nature, a landscaping and groundskeeper job that allows you to work in the great outdoors could be a great career path for you. Landscapers are responsible for the upkeep of gardens and grounds at private residences, parks, and businesses.

The job can be strenuous and extremely physically demanding, as it often involves heavy lifting and long bouts of time outside performing manual labor. Since there are no formal education requirements or qualifications necessary to become a landscaper or groundskeeper, it’s a great opportunity for entry-level job-seekers.

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Baggage Porter or Bellhop
Average Annual Salary: $20,000

Baggage porters or bellhops help customers and travelers transport their bags and luggage at hotels, terminals, and other establishments. Although it might not be the most interesting job, working as a baggage porter or bellhop is a great way to break into the hotel and hospitality industry.

Baggage porters and bellhops are typically trained on the job and don’t need any formal education, making it a great gig for entry-level applicants.

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Work-From-Home Physically Active Jobs

While the majority of remote jobs are sedentary positions that require very little physical activity, there are still career options available to professionals interested in working at home in a more active and physically stimulating professional role.

Many work-from-home jobs that require physical activity also require people to have their own businesses with an appropriate home office. Although these work-from-home positions are best suited for established industry professionals, they are attainable through hard work and dedication.

Some of the best work-from-home jobs for improved health and physical activity are as follows:

Massage Therapist
Average Annual Salary: $45,000

If you’re interested in helping people unwind and relax, a career as a massage therapist could be perfect for you. Massage therapists focus on minimizing tension by massaging the client’s muscles. A masseuse can work at their own home or their client’s home or in spas, fitness centers, hotels, and physicians’ offices.

To work from home as a massage therapist, you’ll need to have a home studio and an excellent rapport with customers. Massage therapists are also typically required to hold a state-issued license or certification and must have high stamina since they’ll be on their feet for most, if not all, of the workday.

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Personal Fitness Trainer
Average Annual Salary: $41,000

Working as a personal fitness trainer is perhaps the best way to engage in exercise and physical activity at work. Personal fitness trainers help clients meet their health and fitness goals, lose weight, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Many self-employed personal fitness trainers work at home, gym, or fitness studio or travel to a client’s house to guide them through aerobic exercise and strength training.

In addition to leading an extremely healthy lifestyle, personal fitness trainers and instructors make attractive salaries. According to labor statistics, Personal fitness trainers earn, on average, more than $40,000 per year.

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Athlete and Sports Competitors
Average Annual Salary: $61,000

For highly active and talented gymnasts and sportsmen and women, pursuing a career as a professional athlete or sports competitor can be extremely rewarding.

To be successful as an athlete and sports competitor, you must be at the top of your game and have extensive knowledge of your sport. Many of the best athletes train at home and periodically compete in events and competitions across the country.

A career as an athlete and sports competitor is one of the best ways to lead a healthy lifestyle and meet career and personal goals through vigorous exercise and physical activity. That being said, it can be extremely hard to break into this industry and requires years of hard work and determination.

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Personal Veterinarian
Average Annual Salary: $126,000

If you love animals, a career as a personal veterinarian could be for you. Personal vets are typically self-employed and work out of a home office or travel to private households, to care for animals.

Although it may be unconventional to work at home as a personal veterinarian, it is possible under the correct circumstances. To work at home as a veterinarian, you’ll need a home office, where you can tend to patients or complete and file paperwork after completing home visits at private households or farms.

Veterinarians are required to engage in regular physical activity throughout their workday in order to give animals the best possible care. In addition to the health benefits that come with this active career, there are also big financial benefits.

Veterinarians rank among the top 50 highest paying jobs in San Antonio, earning an average annual salary of nearly $70,000.

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Baby sitter
Average Annual Salary: $20,000

Babysitters and childcare workers help foster early development and care for children. With the right professional network, babysitters can easily work from home, run their own daycare centers from their house, or travel to and work from a client’s private household.

Successful babysitters typically only need a high school diploma and childcare experience. The job comes with a decent amount of workday flexibility, depending on a client’s specific childcare needs, and requires lots of physical activity. Since babysitters attend to children’s needs, they’re on their feet most of the day.

In addition to the health benefits of a physically active job, there are also many benefits of working with kids. Babysitters have high job satisfaction, build a valuable skill set, and have good job security.

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What to Look for in Jobs That Require Physical Activity

If you’re interested in staying active on the job, there are many career options available to you.

As a rule of thumb, you should stay away from desk jobs that will keep you confined to a cubicle or office all day, and instead, look for jobs that require you to perform moderate-intensity activities throughout the workday.

By looking for blue-collar careers that don’t chain you to a desk or require a whole lot of screen-time to complete your work efficiency, you’ll find jobs that require daily physical activity at work and promote an active and healthy lifestyle.

Focusing on roles that prioritize activity and exercise during your job search will make you less likely to wind up in a role that centers on physical inactivity and sedentary responsibilities. Many jobs that require physical activity will advertise a fast-paced work environment and highlight the physical tasks employees are typically expected to perform.

When looking for jobs that require a high level of physical fitness and regular exercise, it’s important to consider the intensity of the job. Careers with too much vigorous-intensity activity, like construction jobs, for instance, aren’t for everyone.

Looking for a position that allows you to engage in a level of physical activity you’re comfortable with will set you up for career success, reduce your stress levels on the job, and increase your confidence and productivity. But, over-exerting yourself in a role that requires moderate to vigorous physical activity that is too strenuous or much higher than your fitness level can lead to exhaustion.

Be honest with yourself during the job search.

Just as it’s important to be honest with yourself on the activity level you’re capable of at work, it’s also essential to be frank when it comes to specific benefits and the employee perks you’re looking for in your dream job.

Be sure to consider work hours, salary, health insurance benefits, employee retirement accounts or programs, and paid time off when applying for job openings.

Final Thoughts

Working in a career that puts a high emphasis on health and fitness and promotes activity and exercise at work can increase productivity levels, boost overall health and wellbeing, and reduce an employee’s risk of developing various illnesses and diseases.

Finding a job that will get you moving throughout your work week and has the appropriate level of physical activity for you will allow you to lead a physically active lifestyle and even help you live longer.

By using the tips outlined in this article, you can break free from your sedentary and inactive career and land a good-paying job that is rewarding and requires a certain amount of exercise and physical activity.

The best entry-level, high-paying, or work-from-home jobs that require employees to engage in physical activity on the job are directly linked to improved employee satisfaction, happiness, and health.

Final Thoughts

Whether your interests lie in cosmetology, healthcare, hospitality, or safety and security, there’s a job out there for you that will fulfill your career goals and help you live a physically active lifestyle.

The health and fitness benefits that come with engaging in moderate activity at work are vast. The amount of regular exercise you get each day directly affects your daily routine and overall health. Having a sedentary job and sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, can have detrimental effects on your physical health and mental wellbeing.

Getting active at work is scientifically proven to reduce the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, depression, high cholesterol, cardiorespiratory diseases, dementia, high blood pressure, and heart disease, among other chronic conditions.

Bouts of aerobic, high intensity, strength training, and even moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking, jogging, and biking, promote an active lifestyle and help employees sleep better, increase their cognitive function, and lose weight.

People working physically active jobs may even have higher employee satisfaction rates than professionals employed in inactive occupations. Engaging in exercise and physical activity throughout the workday releases endorphins, which actually make employees even more productive on the job by increasing energy levels and feelings of positivity.

That being said, too much physical activity at work can also be a risk factor. Jobs that require employees to be on their feet and moving for the duration of the workday can be strenuous and lead to back pain, extreme fatigue, and hip, knee, and foot problems.

Finding a career that encourages regular physical activity while also allowing for rest and balance is key. Taking breaks throughout a physically demanding workday will increase employee stamina and help professionals maintain a high performance and efficiency level at work.

If you’re looking to boost your performance levels and be more physically active in a primarily sedentary career, there are a few hacks you could try before throwing in the towel and changing career paths entirely.

Taking the stairs, using a height-adjustable standing or treadmill desk, taking walks during lunch breaks, stretching throughout the day, joining employee exercise programs, and working out instead of watching television during leisure-time are great ways to supplement a lack of physical activity at work.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Elsie Boskamp

Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

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