Athletic Trainers: Job Description
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
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What Tasks Do Athletic Trainers Take On?
The core tasks performed by athletic trainers include:
- Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
- Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
- Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
- Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
- Clean and sanitize athletic training rooms.
- Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
- Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective athletic trainers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Athletic Trainers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Athletic Instructor
- Athletic Lecturer
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Athletic Trainer
- Clinical Athletic Instructor
- Clinical Athletic Trainer
- Fitness Specialist
- Licensed Athletic Trainer
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 316,977 athletic trainers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Athletic Trainers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $79,834 |
| Hourly median | $38.38 |
| 10th percentile | $52,557 |
| 25th percentile | $66,195 |
| 75th percentile | $93,472 |
| 90th percentile | $107,110 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Athletic Trainers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $77,350 |
| District of Columbia | $74,990 |
| California | $74,150 |
| Hawaii | $70,930 |
| Connecticut | $67,090 |
| Texas | $66,430 |
| Oklahoma | $65,070 |
| Minnesota | $64,340 |
| New York | $63,850 |
| Massachusetts | $63,720 |
| Utah | $63,190 |
| Alaska | $62,740 |
| Colorado | $62,670 |
| Louisiana | $62,500 |
| New Mexico | $62,300 |
| Illinois | $62,140 |
| Georgia | $61,790 |
| Montana | $61,590 |
| Ohio | $60,900 |
| Maryland | $60,840 |
| Wyoming | $60,790 |
| Delaware | $60,750 |
| Wisconsin | $60,520 |
| Idaho | $60,360 |
| Washington | $60,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,970 |
| Michigan | $58,550 |
| Florida | $58,410 |
| North Dakota | $58,380 |
| Arizona | $58,270 |
| Virginia | $58,200 |
| Maine | $58,140 |
| Rhode Island | $58,140 |
| Indiana | $57,750 |
| Nevada | $57,670 |
| Nebraska | $57,430 |
| Oregon | $57,420 |
| Vermont | $57,160 |
| New Hampshire | $55,180 |
| Kansas | $54,990 |
| Missouri | $54,340 |
| South Dakota | $54,200 |
| Tennessee | $54,040 |
| Alabama | $53,640 |
| South Carolina | $53,520 |
| Arkansas | $53,490 |
| North Carolina | $52,980 |
| Mississippi | $52,260 |
| Kentucky | $51,550 |
| Iowa | $49,700 |
| West Virginia | $45,140 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for athletic trainers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $69,632 | 9.3% | 0.59 |
| Southwest | $64,188 | 11.7% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $63,678 | 16.2% | 1.39 |
| Rocky Mountains | $62,380 | 3.7% | 0.95 |
| New England | $62,104 | 5.5% | 1.34 |
| Great Lakes | $60,227 | 16.4% | 1.22 |
| Plains States | $57,112 | 9.5% | 1.43 |
| Southeast | $56,334 | 27.8% | 1.17 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $80,560 | 40 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | TX | $79,700 | 30 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | TX | $78,550 | 80 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $78,510 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $78,400 | 230 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $78,210 | 160 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $77,150 | 240 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $76,300 | 40 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of athletic trainers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 13,840 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 12,180 | n/a |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2,150 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 260 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 120 | n/a |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 60 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where athletic trainers work:
Software Athletic Trainers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for athletic trainers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Frequency of Decision Making
How to Become Athletic Trainers
Entry-level athletic trainers positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Supplemental)
- Training and Development Specialists (Supplemental)
- Coaches and Scouts (Primary-Long)
- Chiropractors (Primary-Long)
- Occupational Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Physical Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Recreational Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring athletic trainers commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-9091.00 (Athletic Trainers).
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