Athletic Trainers earn a median of $62,520 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 12.7% through 2035, with about 2,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 29-9091
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Athletic Trainer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $62,520a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $89K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +12.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+12.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +12.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,40035,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202535.2K
- Projected 203539.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 35.2K Projected 2035 39.6K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school8.3%
- Bachelor's37.4%
- Master's54.3%
Highest education held by athletic trainers Segment Value High school 8.3% Bachelor's 37.4% Master's 54.3%
Also advertised as: Athletic Instructor, Athletic Lecturer, Athletic Trainer, Certified Athletic Trainer, Personal Trainer, Resident Athletic Trainer.
Pay
How much do Athletic Trainers make?
Every athletic trainer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$62,520
Middle half earn $55,130 to $74,630
- 10th
- $48,180
- 25th
- $55,130
- 75th
- $74,630
- 90th
- $88,760
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,180 |
| 25th | $55,130 |
| Median | $62,520 |
| 75th | $74,630 |
| 90th | $88,760 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $62,520
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $66,620
- People employed
- 30,500
Versus all US occupations
At $62,520, Athletic Trainers earn 23% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,540 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 39% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $88,760 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,180, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($78,490), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $78,558 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Athletic Trainers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $78,490 | $70,891 | 1,760 |
| 2Hawaii | $76,320 | $69,413 | 200 |
| 3New Jersey | $76,210 | $70,043 | 890 |
| 4District of Columbia | $74,450 | $67,743 | 100 |
| 5New Mexico | $72,440 | $78,558 | 150 |
| 6Massachusetts | $70,010 | $66,199 | 630 |
| 7Connecticut | $69,960 | $67,522 | 290 |
| 8New York | $66,230 | $61,369 | 1,370 |
| 9Utah | $65,980 | $66,738 | 340 |
| 10Minnesota | $65,390 | $66,304 | 820 |
Job outlook
Is Athletic Trainer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +12.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | +12.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Athletic Trainers to change 12.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.6× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 4,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,400 openings are projected each year, 6.8% of the 35,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Sports programs at all ages and for all experience levels will continue to create demand for athletic trainers. With high levels of participation by children and youth in individual and team sports, athletic trainers will be needed to manage emergency and non-emergency situations that arise. The popularity of college sports and continued participation by student athletes will increase demand for these workers to help athletes prevent and recover from injuries and perform at their highest level.
Meanwhile, growing numbers of middle-aged and older adults are remaining physically active. Their continued activity will likely lead to an increase in athletics-related injuries, such as sprains. Athletic trainers will be needed to provide sophisticated treatments in injury prevention and detection.
Getting in
How to become an Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Nearly all states require athletic trainers to have a license or certification; requirements vary by state.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as athletic trainers.
- Master's Degree54.3%
- Bachelor's Degree37.4%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)8.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 54.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 37.4% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 8.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Athletic Trainer do?
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.
Day-to-day 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.
- Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most athletic trainers work full time. Athletic trainers who work with teams during sporting events may work evenings or weekends and travel often.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where athletic trainers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Educational services; state, local, and private40%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private16%
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists14%
- Offices of physicians11%
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 40% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 16% |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 14% |
| Offices of physicians | 11% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Learning3.8
- Writing3.5
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Instructing3.6
- Service Orientation3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Athletic Trainer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Athletic Trainer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Social5.8
- Realistic5.6
- Investigative4.4
- Conventional3.2
- Enterprising2.2
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with athletic trainers highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
- Athletic Trainer$62,520
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
| Athletic Trainer | $62,520 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Athletic Trainer appears on
Questions
Athletic Trainer: frequently asked questions
How much do Athletic Trainers make?
Athletic Trainers earn a median of $62,520 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 23% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. The middle half earn between $55,130 and $74,630. The top 10% earn $88,760 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Athletic Trainer?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Athletic Trainers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 54.3% hold master's degree.
Is Athletic Trainer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 12.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Athletic Trainer do?
Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. A core O*NET task: 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. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Athletic Trainers the most?
The highest state medians for Athletic Trainers are California ($78,490), Hawaii ($76,320), New Jersey ($76,210) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $78,558.
What personality type suits an Athletic Trainer?
O*NET scores Athletic Trainers highest on the Social, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.