Should I be a physical education (PE) teacher?

Is fitness your thing?

Do you LOVE being active, playing sports, or exercising?

Do you find yourself encouraging your friends & family (both young and old) to be healthier?

Being a physical education (PE) teacher might be the right career for you!

PE teachers influence, motivate, and educate their students to:

• Be active

• Set healthy goals

• Work together in teams

• Make healthy lifestyle choices

• Learn different sports & physical activities

• Compete with integrity

On any given day, you might:

• Teach a P. E. class to 2nd graders on balancing

• Work with students to set 3 personal fitness goals

• Teach a health class on sleep and stress management

• Adapt skills & technique training on controlled dribbling to accommodate physically disabled students

• Grade assignments from the day

• Coach the junior varsity basketball team in their first game of the season

In the video below, Ms. Webster takes you through a day in her life as a middle school PE teacher.

The video shows the PE teacher:

• Setting the gym up & teaching 7th & 8th grade badminton classes

• Showing March Madness college basketball highlights to her students

• Planning lessons

• Taking students outside for soccer

• Prepping for softball practice

Most PE teachers work in elementary, middle, or high schools (public or private).

But PE teachers can also work in:

• Colleges & universities

• Vocational schools

• Community-based recreation centers

In 2025, salaries in the US averaged around $55,000 (USD) a year.

In 2025, salaries in Canada averaged around $57,000 (CAD) a year.

• You're passionate about health & fitness.

• You enjoy being physically active and working on the move.

• You like to teach and motivate others.

• You want to influence children, teenagers, and young adults.

• You like working alone.

• You would rather work on tasks instead of teaching or explaining them.

• You like to work at a desk and be more stationary than active.

• You would rather work with adults instead of children, teens, or young adults.

From the character descriptions listed below, which of these people do you think would enjoy & excel at being a PE teacher?

Anuk

• Hyper-energetic and passionate about sports

• Not a fan of explaining the rules of a game or how it's played

• Thinks hanging out with kids is just ok but would rather be with adults

Trisha

• Energetic and always on the move

• Enjoys engaging with people and trying to spike their interest in fitness

• One of the favorite youth sports coaches in her community

Ren

• Reserved but patient and thoughtful

• Enjoys running marathons and training with his triathlon club

• Eager to help friends and family reach their fitness goals when asked for help

Angeline

• Quiet but highly competitive

• Ran track for her college track & field team

• Most content when working alone