What Do Sports Medicine Physician Do?
Occupation Description Diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.
List of Sports Medicine Physician Job Duties
- Advise against injured athletes returning to games or competition if resuming activity could lead to further injury.
- Develop and prescribe exercise programs such as off-season conditioning regimens.
- Observe and evaluate athletes’ mental well-being.
- Examine and evaluate athletes prior to participation in sports activities to determine level of physical fitness or predisposition to injuries.
- Evaluate and manage chronic pain conditions.
- Select and prepare medical equipment or medications to be taken to athletic competition sites.
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Sports Medicine Physician Needed Skills
These are the skills Sports Medicine Physicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Sports Medicine Physician Jobs
- Head Orthopedic Team Physician
- Sports Medicine Specialist
- Medical Director
- Team Primary Care Physician
- Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Specialist/Team Physician
Sports Medicine Physician Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 372,400 jobs for Sports Medicine Physician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 42,300 new jobs for Sports Medicine Physician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Sports Medicine Physician are Arizona, Alaska, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Sports Medicine Physicians Salary
The typical yearly salary for Sports Medicine Physicians is somewhere between $60,280 and $208,000.

Sports Medicine Physicians who work in Alaska, Arizona, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sports Medicine Physicians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $183,510 |
Alaska | $244,220 |
Arizona | $229,090 |
Arkansas | $165,290 |
California | $208,740 |
Colorado | $219,310 |
Connecticut | $221,870 |
Delaware | $216,600 |
District of Columbia | $182,910 |
Florida | $205,020 |
Georgia | $235,060 |
Hawaii | $228,470 |
Idaho | $241,670 |
Illinois | $183,780 |
Indiana | $237,470 |
Iowa | $219,300 |
Kansas | $191,430 |
Kentucky | $223,770 |
Louisiana | $183,920 |
Maine | $257,550 |
Maryland | $196,210 |
Massachusetts | $207,990 |
Michigan | $181,760 |
Minnesota | $245,040 |
Mississippi | $174,340 |
Missouri | $203,440 |
Montana | $247,260 |
Nebraska | $161,880 |
Nevada | $227,500 |
New Hampshire | $275,840 |
New Jersey | $208,820 |
New Mexico | $229,100 |
New York | $171,060 |
North Carolina | $198,040 |
North Dakota | $266,510 |
Ohio | $212,160 |
Oklahoma | $155,130 |
Oregon | $202,750 |
Pennsylvania | $195,810 |
Rhode Island | $209,580 |
South Carolina | $185,210 |
South Dakota | $227,710 |
Tennessee | $231,960 |
Texas | $199,370 |
Utah | $218,210 |
Vermont | $176,520 |
Virginia | $199,080 |
Washington | $239,080 |
West Virginia | $222,270 |
Wisconsin | $239,610 |
Wyoming | $234,610 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Sports Medicine Physicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Sports Medicine Physicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE
- GalacTek ECLIPSE
- Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
- Epic Practice Management
- GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution
- Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
- CareCloud Central
- Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
- IOS Health Systems Medios EHR
- Kareo Practice Management
- McKesson Practice Plus
- Modernizing Medicine Practice Management
- NextGen Healthcare NextGen Practice Management
- Vitera Healthcare Solutions Vitera Intergy
How to Become a Sports Medicine Physician
What education is needed to be a Sports Medicine Physician?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Sports Medicine Physicians Work

Sports Medicine Physicians work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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