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 Do?
The core tasks performed by athletic trainers cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective athletic trainers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Athletic Trainers Jobs
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
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 316,977 athletic trainers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Athletic Trainers
| 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Athletic Trainers
The bulk of athletic trainers are found across these industries:
| 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 |
Athletic Trainers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
Work Environment
The work environment for athletic trainers reflects 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
Education and Training
Most athletic trainers positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling 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
Future athletic trainers typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness Studies, and Kinesiology
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from 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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