Athletic Trainer

$62,520

median / year

$48,180 – $88,760

what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Prevent, evaluate, and rehabilitate athletes' injuries, working alongside coaches and physicians.

You may also see this posted as: Athletic Instructor, Certified Athletic Trainer, Personal Trainer, Athletic Lecturer, Resident Athletic Trainer, Women's Athletic Trainer.

Where you work

Schools, teams, clinics, and hospitals

The hours

Evenings and weekends during sports seasons

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

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.

Good fit if you like…

Social

helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people

Realistic

working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

O*NET job zone 5 of 5

Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

DependabilityAttention to DetailCooperationStress Tolerance

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordBioEx Systems Exercise Pro

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay

$62,520

per year

What most earn

$48,180–$88,760

yearly, 10th to 90th percentile

Openings a year

~2,400

projected, 2024–34

Outlook to 2034

+11.1%

Much faster than average

Working in the U.S.

30,500

people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 6.2% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

State

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree + certification.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

Requires national board certification, and most states also require a license.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

Find state licenses Find recognized certifications

What it takes

Injury assessmentRehabilitationQuick judgmentCommunication

The honest take

Rewarding work in sports medicine, but the master's requirement now sets a higher bar than many expect.

Similar careers to compare

Fitness Trainer / Instructor

Everyday & transport

$47,160

median / year

Turn a number into a plan

Standard Occupational Classification 29-9091. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.