Physiotherapist (with MPT)
$70,000 – $95,000
The classic destination, competitive entry
Degree guide
what can i do with a kinesiology degree?
The degree for people who chose the body as their subject. Mostly a launchpad — and the launches it feeds are some of the best jobs in health. The catch: most need a second step.
Kin is the best runway in health care — emphasis on runway
Physio, OT, med school, chiropractic, athletic therapy: kin feeds them all, and that is how most kin students use it. The bachelor's alone supports real but modest-paying work (training, rehab assisting). Decide early whether you are building toward the master's, and guard the GPA like it is the actual product — because for those doors, it is.
Jobs and salary context
Typical Canadian ranges from Job Bank medians, checked Oct 2026. Actual outcomes vary by role, location, experience, and employer.
Occupational therapist (with MOT)
$70,000 – $95,000
The equally good door fewer apply to
Registered kinesiologist
$50,000 – $70,000
Direct practice, province-dependent scope
Strength & conditioning coach
$45,000 – $75,000
Team and private sector; certification-driven
Ergonomics / disability management
$55,000 – $85,000
The corporate lane, WSBC/insurer-adjacent
Cardiac rehab / clinical exercise
$55,000 – $75,000
Hospital-based, growing with the demographics
FAQ
Is kinesiology useless without a master's?
Not useless — registered kin practice, coaching, ergonomics and rehab-assistant work are real — but the salary ceiling without a second credential is honest-to-modest. Kin is at its strongest as a deliberate step one.
What GPA do I need for physio after kin?
MPT programs commonly admit in the mid-80s equivalent range and take a fraction of applicants. Treat every kin course like it counts, because the admissions math does.
Kin vs nursing for a health career?
Nursing employs at the bachelor's with higher starting pay; kin offers the movement-and-rehab specialization path. If you want a licensed, well-paid job straight out of the bachelor's, nursing wins. If the MPT/MOT goal is real, kin is the purpose-built road.