Athletic trainers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,180 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,520 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $66,620 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $88,760 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Athletic trainers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,940 | $38,110 | $63,840 | 840 | 2.02 |
| Arizona | $61,710 | $48,330 | $89,080 | 590 | 0.93 |
| Arkansas | $57,240 | $47,350 | $72,900 | 240 | 0.93 |
| California | $78,490 | $54,770 | $108,050 | 1,760 | 0.49 |
| Colorado | $64,580 | $53,390 | $86,170 | 380 | 0.67 |
| Connecticut | $69,960 | $50,900 | $112,140 | 290 | 0.86 |
| Delaware | $59,650 | $41,080 | $88,490 | 50 | 0.5 |
| District of Columbia | $74,450 | $59,290 | $143,050 | 100 | 0.76 |
| Florida | $61,350 | $48,890 | $80,370 | 1,430 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $64,590 | $48,320 | $107,810 | 860 | 0.9 |
| Hawaii | $76,320 | $56,110 | $92,500 | 200 | 1.6 |
| Idaho | $60,410 | $52,940 | $88,540 | 170 | 1.04 |
| Illinois | $64,750 | $49,240 | $93,020 | 850 | 0.71 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | $47,510 | $76,730 | 1,040 | 1.66 |
| Iowa | $55,430 | $47,250 | $69,620 | 570 | 1.86 |
| Kansas | $59,140 | $47,160 | $78,600 | 390 | 1.37 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 | $45,500 | $82,480 | 720 | 1.83 |
| Louisiana | $62,760 | $50,120 | $78,880 | 810 | 2.13 |
| Maine | $61,970 | $48,140 | $79,180 | 180 | 1.47 |
| Maryland | $63,970 | $48,290 | $90,350 | 320 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | $70,010 | $50,560 | $104,850 | 630 | 0.88 |
| Michigan | $59,280 | $46,580 | $74,790 | 870 | 1.01 |
| Minnesota | $65,390 | $57,910 | $78,430 | 820 | 1.42 |
| Mississippi | $58,180 | $49,160 | $75,730 | 200 | 0.89 |
| Missouri | $58,660 | $47,540 | $70,910 | 510 | 0.89 |
| Montana | $60,090 | $51,380 | $101,460 | 50 | 0.51 |
| Nebraska | $61,020 | $48,480 | $76,080 | 270 | 1.36 |
| Nevada | $59,820 | $31,200 | $106,060 | 180 | 0.6 |
| New Hampshire | $60,200 | $46,640 | $93,050 | 210 | 1.54 |
| New Jersey | $76,210 | $52,040 | $112,330 | 890 | 1.06 |
| New Mexico | $72,440 | $47,030 | $84,130 | 150 | 0.89 |
| New York | $66,230 | $49,990 | $101,840 | 1,370 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $56,540 | $46,740 | $77,000 | 990 | 1.02 |
| North Dakota | $60,900 | $48,220 | $77,360 | 110 | 1.29 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | $49,700 | $75,100 | 2,100 | 1.93 |
| Oklahoma | $61,320 | $33,800 | $84,810 | 360 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | $57,790 | $50,420 | $86,120 | 280 | 0.73 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,060 | $46,960 | $77,920 | 1,870 | 1.58 |
| Rhode Island | $63,750 | $46,600 | $86,580 | ||
| South Carolina | $59,240 | $43,360 | $76,120 | 530 | 1.17 |
| South Dakota | $58,620 | $47,630 | $64,130 | 150 | 1.66 |
| Tennessee | $59,850 | $44,030 | $75,510 | 580 | 0.9 |
| Texas | $64,150 | $54,750 | $99,480 | 3,130 | 1.13 |
| Utah | $65,980 | $52,680 | $86,910 | 340 | 0.99 |
| Vermont | $62,910 | $55,020 | $77,400 | 140 | 2.29 |
| Virginia | $61,860 | $49,170 | $87,240 | 830 | 1.03 |
| Washington | $63,750 | $49,290 | $88,610 | 240 | 0.35 |
| West Virginia | $50,510 | $41,020 | $72,800 | 110 | 0.84 |
| Wisconsin | $61,820 | $47,360 | $78,160 | 620 | 1.07 |
| Wyoming | $63,190 | $48,360 | $82,570 | 60 | 1.03 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for athletic trainers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for athletic trainers
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Physical Fitness Technician CIP 31.0507
- Athletic Training/Trainer CIP 51.0913
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
- Database software
- Digital Coach AthleticTrainer
- Email software
- ImPACT Applications ImPACT
- Injury tracking software
- Keffer Development Services Athletic Trainer System ATS
- Premier Software Simtrak Mobility
- Scheduling software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.
Common job titles: Athletic Instructor, Athletic Lecturer, Athletic Trainer, Certified Athletic Trainer, Personal Trainer, Resident Athletic Trainer, Women's Athletic Trainer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do athletic trainers make?
The national median annual wage for athletic trainers was $62,520 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,180 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $88,760. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do athletic trainers need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is athletic trainers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of athletic trainers to change +12.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay athletic trainers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($78,490), Hawaii ($76,320), New Jersey ($76,210). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.