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College & University Athletics
University of Alabama, Ohio State University, Stanford University
Athletic Trainers
Athletic trainers treat injuries, help athletes recover, and decide when someone can safely keep playing or needs outside medical care. The work is hands-on and high-stakes: you are constantly balancing fast decisions, prevention, and rehab while working with coaches, physicians, and athletes who want different things.
Also known as Certified Athletic TrainerClinical Athletic TrainerSports Medicine Athletic TrainerAthletic Trainer - CertifiedIndustrial Athletic Trainer
Median Salary
$60,250
Mean $63,960
U.S. Workforce
~29K
2.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+11.1%
33.9K to 37.6K
Entry Education
Master's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Athletic Trainers sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~29K workers, with a median annual pay of $60,250 and roughly 2.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 33.9 K in 2024 to 37.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in athletic training or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Athletic Training Intern and can progress toward Athletic Training Director. High-value skills usually include Athletic Taping, Bracing & Protective Equipment, Concussion Screening & Return-to-Play Protocols, and Rehabilitation Exercise Programming & Therapeutic Modalities, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Core Responsibilities
- Check injuries on the spot and decide whether an athlete can keep going, needs treatment, or should be sent to a doctor or hospital.
- Tape, wrap, brace, and otherwise protect joints and muscles before practices, games, and workouts.
- Help athletes through rehab sessions, use therapy equipment, and update recovery plans with physicians.
- Write down injuries, treatments, and progress so coaches and medical staff know what is happening.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check injuries on the spot and decide whether an athlete can keep going, needs treatment, or should be sent to a doctor or hospital.
02 Tape, wrap, brace, and otherwise protect joints and muscles before practices, games, and workouts.
03 Help athletes through rehab sessions, use therapy equipment, and update recovery plans with physicians.
04 Write down injuries, treatments, and progress so coaches and medical staff know what is happening.
05 Show athletes how to use equipment safely and how to lower the chance of getting hurt again.
06 Keep training rooms clean and stocked, and go with athletes when they need emergency or follow-up care.
Industries That Hire
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Hospitals & Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, HCA Healthcare
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Professional Sports Teams
Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers
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Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Clinics
ATI Physical Therapy, Select Medical, Athletico
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Military & Government Health Services
U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Veterans Health Administration
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for a healthcare support role, with a mean annual wage of $63,960 and a median of $60,250.
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Job growth is projected at 11.1% through 2034, and about 2.4 thousand openings are expected each year.
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BLS says no prior work experience or on-the-job training is required once you have the right education and credentials.
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You get direct, hands-on contact with athletes and can see recovery progress from one day to the next.
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The work is varied because you do prevention, emergency response, rehab, and education instead of sitting at a desk all day.
Challenges
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The typical entry path is a master's degree, so you may need to invest a lot in school before earning a moderate salary.
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The job often involves evenings, weekends, travel, and being on your feet for long stretches during practices and games.
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The field is fairly small, with only 28,950 current jobs, so openings can be competitive and uneven by region.
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Career growth can level off unless you move into management, a larger sports medicine program, or a different rehab field.
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Hiring can depend on school, team, or department budgets, which makes the work more vulnerable to cuts than some healthcare jobs.
Career Progression
Athletic Training Intern
0-1 years
$30K-$38K
Learns the basics of injury care, helps set up treatment spaces, and supports licensed staff during practices and events.
Assistant Athletic Trainer
1-3 years
$39K-$52K
Takes on routine taping, documentation, rehab support, and event coverage with some supervision.
Athletic Trainer THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$55K-$68K
Handles assessments, treatment plans, and return-to-play decisions while working closely with coaches and physicians.
Senior Athletic Trainer
7-12 years
$69K-$82K
Leads day-to-day injury care for a team or clinic, mentors newer staff, and helps standardize safety protocols.
Athletic Training Director
12+ years
$83K-$98K
Oversees staffing, budgets, policies, and relationships with medical providers or athletic departments.
Education Paths
Master's degree in athletic training or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 54.33% of workers in this role, and it matches the BLS typical entry level for athletic trainers.
Bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or athletic training
A common route, held by 37.39% of workers, often followed by additional athletic training coursework or a graduate program.
High school diploma with later formal training
Only 8.28% of workers report this as their highest level of education, so it is an uncommon path and usually not enough on its own to qualify.
Post-baccalaureate athletic training program plus certification
This is a practical alternative for career changers who already have a bachelor's degree and need the clinical preparation and certification required to work in the field.
Key Skills
Technical
Athletic Taping, Bracing & Protective Equipment 82%
Concussion Screening & Return-to-Play Protocols 80%
Rehabilitation Exercise Programming & Therapeutic Modalities 78%
Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner) & Injury Documentation 76%
Emergency Response, Splinting & Referral Procedures 74%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSpeakingSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+11.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 33.9K to 37.6 K over the next decade, representing 11.1% growth. Around 2.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.