What Do Physical Education Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for physical education teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what physical education teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Physical Education Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about physical education teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Physical Education Teachers all teachers and instructors not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Physical Education Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Lecturers
- Adjuncts
- Summer School Teachers
- University Lecturers
- Certified Teachers
- Adjunct Lecturers
- Physical Education Teachers
- Japanese Teachers
- Continuing Education Instructors
- El Teachers
- Adjunct College Professors
- Adult Education Instructors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for physical education teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Physical Education Teachers
Physical Education Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 30.9%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 13.1%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 11.7%
- Federal Government, Military: 8.6%
- Other Schools and Instruction: 5.7%
- Religious Organizations: 3.8%
- Other: 26.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of physical education teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 30.9% of all jobs for physical education teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (13.1%), Federal Government, Civilian (11.7%), Federal Government, Military (8.6%), Other Schools and Instruction (5.7%) and Religious Organizations (3.8%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Physical Education Teachers
Focus your online doctorate in educational technology at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. Instructional Technology degree (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).
- Years To Complete: 3
Become a stronger and more confident and conscious leader with Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. doctorate with a focus on Higher Education. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn and apply theoretical frameworks and data-informed leadership skills across different organizational contexts within the college and university setting.
- Years To Complete: 3
Educational and business settings need effective and ethical leaders. Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. with a focus on Organization Leadership equips you to become a transformative leader. With this 100% online doctor of education, you’ll develop expertise in educational technology, data-driven decision making and real-world change management.
- Years To Complete: 3
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
What Do Physical Education Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what physical education teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work physical education teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that physical education teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for physical education teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Physical Education Teachers
Based on 43,553 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Physical Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Physical Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
Based on 43,553 job postings related to physical education teachers, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 8% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for lesson planning, pedagogy, physical education, social sciences and bilingual (spanish/english) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for physical education teachers, followed by communications, multilingualism, research, writing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,018 | 5% |
| Learning Management Systems | 1,969 | 5% |
| Online Teaching | 1,871 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 1,867 | 4% |
| Merchandising | 1,762 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 1,751 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,668 | 4% |
| Powertrain | 1,632 | 4% |
| Biology | 1,587 | 4% |
| Special Education | 1,554 | 4% |
| Syllabus Development | 1,530 | 4% |
| Psychology | 1,524 | 3% |
| Colocation | 1,513 | 3% |
| Computer Science | 1,440 | 3% |
| Lecturing | 1,413 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
| English Language | 5,344 | 12% |
| Management | 4,514 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,422 | 10% |
| Planning | 4,339 | 10% |
| Innovation | 3,716 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 3,498 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,367 | 8% |
| Spanish Language | 3,159 | 7% |
| Mathematics | 3,155 | 7% |
| Advising | 3,082 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 2,698 | 6% |
| Sales | 2,427 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,323 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,156 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 1,850 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Physical Education Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturers | 6,193 | 21.5% |
| Adjuncts | 2,567 | 8.9% |
| Summer School Teachers | 2,341 | 8.1% |
| University Lecturers | 1,639 | 5.7% |
| Certified Teachers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was lecturers, with 1,741 unique job postings. Adjuncts were second, with 1,258 postings, followed by summer school teachers, university lecturers and certified teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to physical education teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturers | 6,193 | 21.5% |
| Adjuncts | 2,567 | 8.9% |
| Summer School Teachers | 2,341 | 8.1% |
| University Lecturers | 1,639 | 5.7% |
| Certified Teachers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
| Adjunct Lecturers | 1,936 | 6.7% |
| Physical Education Teachers | 1,499 | 5.2% |
| Japanese Teachers | 1,113 | 3.9% |
| Continuing Education Instructors | 1,221 | 4.2% |
| El Teachers | 791 | 2.8% |
| Adjunct College Professors | 475 | 1.7% |
| Adult Education Instructors | 690 | 2.4% |
| Lecturers in Computer Science | 686 | 2.4% |
| College Lecturers | 750 | 2.6% |
| Open Rank Professors | 675 | 2.3% |
| Leo Lecturers | 1,065 | 3.7% |
| Bilingual Spanish Customer Service Representatives | 710 | 2.5% |
| Professors | 890 | 3.1% |
| Guest Teachers | 1,044 | 3.6% |
| Adjunct Instructors | 533 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for physical education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical education teachers.
How much do physical education teachers make?
Physical Education Teachers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.