Life As a Sports Medicine Physician
Position Description Diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.
Life As a Sports Medicine Physician: What Do They Do?
- Provide education and counseling on illness and injury prevention.
- Examine and evaluate athletes prior to participation in sports activities to determine level of physical fitness or predisposition to injuries.
- Advise against injured athletes returning to games or competition if resuming activity could lead to further injury.
- Refer athletes for specialized consultation, physical therapy, or diagnostic testing.
- Record athletes' medical care information and maintain medical records.
- Participate in continuing education activities to improve and maintain knowledge and skills.
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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
- Nonsurgical Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician
- Medical Director
- Sports Medicine Specialist
- Orthopaedic Surgeon, Director of Sports Medicine
- Co-Director of Sports Medicine and Team Physician
Sports Medicine Physician Employment Estimates
There were about 372,400 jobs for Sports Medicine Physician in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 14,300 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Sports Medicine Physician Average Salary
The salary for Sports Medicine Physicians ranges between about $60,280 and $208,000 a year.

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 |
What Tools & Technology do Sports Medicine Physicians Use?
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
Becoming a Sports Medicine Physician
Individuals working as a Sports Medicine Physician have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Sports Medicine Physician?

Where Sports Medicine Physicians Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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