Athletic Trainers Salary
The median athletic trainers salary in the United States is $62,520 per year. Salaries range from $48,180 at the entry level to $88,760+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 30,500 athletic trainers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 11.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Athletic Trainers Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for athletic trainerss.
Athletic trainers (ATs) prevent + assess + treat + rehab injuries for athletes + occupational + military populations. Entry $45-58k; mid-career licensed AT $55-75k; senior/college/pro sports $75-115k; head athletic trainer at pro team $125-215k+; industrial + military specialty $85-135k. Master's degree required (2022+). BOC certification + state license. Growing sector: youth + college + military + industrial expansion.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Athletic Trainers
- 1Get bachelor's + master's (required 2022+)CAATE-accredited master's program (2 years, $30-70k). Undergrad in kinesiology/exercise science common.
- 2Complete clinical rotations1,000+ supervised clinical hours during master's program.
- 3Pass BOC certification examBoard of Certification exam ($400) + state licensure ($100-500 varies).
- 4Land setting: HS + college + clinic + industrial + militaryHigh school + college most common for entry. Pro + military competitive. Industrial growing fast.
- 5Specialize + advanceMS + specialty (SCAT + APM + sports biomechanics) + head AT + strength + rehab specialist.
Career Progression
- β’Cover athletic events
- β’Basic injury assessment
- β’Rehab under supervision
- β’Complete BOC + state license
- β’Own athletic team coverage
- β’Full injury care + rehab
- β’Physician coordination
- β’Preseason screening
- β’Head trainer for program
- β’Team of ATs + interns
- β’Physician + admin coordination
- β’Program development
- β’Own athletic health program
- β’Team of 5-15 ATs + staff
- β’Executive + medical staff coordination
- β’Budget + policy + research
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through evaluating an ankle sprain.technical
Q2. How do you handle a concussed athlete?situational
Q3. Describe a return-to-play decision you made.behavioral
Q4. How do you handle a coach pressuring for early return?situational
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Entry AT (0-3 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈProvided athletic training coverage for 3 varsity sports + 4 JV + club sports at high school of 1,800 students.
- βΈAssessed + managed 220+ injuries with 96% appropriate referral rate + zero repeat injuries from premature return.
- βΈPassed BOC + state license within 60 days + earned SCAT-5 concussion certification.
- βΈDeveloped injury prevention program reducing hamstring strains 42% in football over 2 seasons.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak assessment skills.
- βCant handle emergency situations.
- βPoor concussion protocol adherence.
- βCant push back on coaches/administrators.
- βWeak documentation.
- βNo continuing ed or growth mindset.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βMaster's now required β bachelor's-only ATs limited market.
- βSpecialty (concussion + PES + CSCS) = $5-15k premium.
- βPro sports + Division I college = major pay bump.
- βIndustrial + military settings pay 30-60% premium over HS.
- βHead AT stipend at HS $8-25k in addition to base.
- βSign-on: $2-8k common at HS + colleges.
- βPSLF at schools + non-profits + hospitals.
Athletic Trainers Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired athletic trainerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Athletic Trainers Career Kit β $19
- β All 13 interview questions with expert answers
- β 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Athletic Trainers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $78,490 | +25.5% |
| Hawaii | $76,320 | +22.1% |
| New Jersey | $76,210 | +21.9% |
| District of Columbia | $74,450 | +19.1% |
| New Mexico | $72,440 | +15.9% |
| Massachusetts | $70,010 | +12.0% |
| Connecticut | $69,960 | +11.9% |
| New York | $66,230 | +5.9% |
| Utah | $65,980 | +5.5% |
| Minnesota | $65,390 | +4.6% |
Athletic Trainers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,630 | +43.4% |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $82,480 | +31.9% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,950 | +27.9% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $78,910 | +26.2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $78,580 | +25.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,840 | +24.5% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,580 | +24.1% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,890 | +23.0% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $76,500 | +22.4% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,540 | +20.8% |