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If you're considering a career in allied health and medicine, one of the first questions you're probably asking is: how much do athletic trainers make? It's a fair question, and one I hear constantly from the aspiring healthcare professionals who use our platform. The answer, like most things in healthcare compensation, depends on several factors — but I'm going to break it all down for you in this comprehensive guide.
Athletic training is one of the most dynamic and rewarding careers in healthcare. These professionals work at the intersection of sports, rehabilitation, and preventive medicine, helping everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors recover from injuries and perform at their best. But does the compensation match the dedication this career demands? Let's dig into the numbers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for athletic trainers in the United States was approximately $56,420 as of their most recent Occupational Employment and Wages survey. That translates to roughly $27.13 per hour for full-time work.
However, that median figure only tells part of the story. Here's how the salary distribution breaks down across percentiles:
What I find most encouraging about these numbers is the significant gap between the median and the top earners. This tells me there's real room for salary growth in this field, especially for athletic trainers who specialize, gain advanced certifications, or move into leadership roles.
When job seekers ask me how much do athletic trainers make, I always emphasize that several key variables can dramatically shift your earning potential. Let me walk you through the most important ones.
Where you practice matters enormously. Athletic trainers in metropolitan areas and states with higher costs of living tend to earn significantly more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the highest-paying states for athletic trainers include:
On the other hand, rural areas and states with lower costs of living may offer salaries closer to the lower end of the national range. That said, I always remind candidates on healthcareers.app to consider cost-of-living adjustments — a $50,000 salary in a low-cost state can stretch just as far as $70,000 in an expensive city.
The type of employer you work for plays a huge role in your compensation. Here's a breakdown of average salaries by work setting:
I've noticed through our job listings at healthcareers.app that hospital-based athletic training positions are growing rapidly. Healthcare systems increasingly recognize the value of having athletic trainers as part of their orthopedic and rehabilitation teams, which is great news for the profession's salary trajectory.
The athletic training profession has undergone significant educational changes in recent years. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) now requires a master's degree as the minimum entry-level education for athletic trainers. According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association, this shift to graduate-level education is expected to positively influence salaries over time as the profession aligns more closely with other master's-level allied health roles.
Additionally, holding your Board of Certification (BOC) credential is essential. Many employers also value additional certifications such as:
As with most healthcare careers, experience is a powerful salary driver. Here's a general trajectory I've observed:
Athletic training occupies a unique and increasingly respected position within allied health and medicine. Unlike some allied health roles that are primarily clinic-based, athletic trainers work across an extraordinary range of environments — from sidelines and training rooms to hospitals, performing arts venues, and even corporate wellness programs.
What excites me about this field is how it continues to evolve. The scope of practice for athletic trainers has expanded significantly, and healthcare systems are recognizing that these professionals bring a skill set that bridges the gap between prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation. This expanding scope is reflected in the job growth projections.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of athletic trainers will grow by approximately 14% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by increased awareness of sports-related injuries, particularly concussions, and the growing recognition of athletic trainers' value in healthcare settings beyond traditional sports.
I think it's helpful to put athletic trainer compensation in context by comparing it to other careers in allied health and medicine:
While athletic trainers may earn less than some of these roles, it's worth noting that job satisfaction in athletic training tends to be exceptionally high. Many athletic trainers tell me they love the variety, the direct patient interaction, and the opportunity to work with active populations.
For healthcare professionals who want to significantly increase their earning potential, I often discuss advanced practice roles. One of the most lucrative paths in healthcare is the CRNA career (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). CRNAs earn a median salary of over $212,650 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it one of the highest-paying nursing specializations.
While a CRNA career requires a completely different educational path — a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, critical care nursing experience, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree — I bring it up because many healthcare professionals start in one allied health role and eventually transition to higher-paying specialties. If you're an athletic trainer who's passionate about clinical medicine and looking to maximize your long-term earning potential, understanding the full landscape of healthcare careers, including the CRNA career pathway, can help you make informed decisions about your professional future.
We built healthcareers.app because we believe every healthcare professional deserves access to clear, honest information about career paths and compensation — whether you're exploring athletic training or considering advanced practice roles.
Based on the thousands of job listings I've reviewed and the salary data I've analyzed, here are my top strategies for earning more as an athletic trainer:
Athletic trainers who specialize in high-demand areas tend to earn more. Consider focusing on orthopedic rehabilitation, concussion management, or tactical/military athletic training. These niches often come with premium compensation.
If salary is a top priority, focus your job search on professional sports organizations, hospital systems, and corporate wellness programs. These settings consistently offer the highest compensation packages in the field.
Don't just focus on base salary. Many athletic training positions come with excellent benefits including health insurance, retirement contributions, continuing education stipends, and even tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees. I always encourage candidates to evaluate the total compensation package.
Stacking credentials on top of your BOC certification makes you more marketable and more valuable. Each additional certification can add $2,000–$5,000 or more to your annual salary, depending on the employer.
If you're flexible about where you live, targeting high-paying states or metropolitan areas can significantly boost your income. Use our job search tools on healthcareers.app to compare opportunities across different regions.
Athletic training program directors, head athletic trainers at major universities, and clinical coordinators for hospital systems can earn $80,000–$120,000 or more. If you enjoy mentoring and managing, the leadership path offers excellent financial rewards.
The future looks bright for athletic trainers. Several trends suggest that salaries will continue to rise in the coming years:
I'm genuinely optimistic about where this profession is headed. The combination of growing demand, elevated educational requirements, and expanding practice settings creates a perfect environment for salary growth.
Entry-level athletic trainers typically earn between $38,000 and $48,000 per year, depending on their location, work setting, and whether they have any additional certifications beyond their BOC credential. Positions at hospitals and professional sports organizations tend to offer higher starting salaries than those at high schools or small colleges.
Yes, athletic trainers generally earn more than personal trainers. Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare professionals with a master's degree, while personal trainers typically hold a certification that doesn't require an advanced degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for fitness trainers and instructors (which includes personal trainers) is approximately $46,480, compared to $56,420 for athletic trainers.
Absolutely. While it's not the norm, athletic trainers in certain settings can earn six-figure salaries. Head athletic trainers for professional sports teams, athletic training program directors at universities, and senior clinical coordinators in hospital systems can earn $100,000 or more. Gaining extensive experience, pursuing leadership roles, and working in high-paying geographic areas are the most common paths to a six-figure salary in this field.
These are very different career paths. A CRNA career requires becoming a registered nurse first, gaining critical care experience, and completing a doctoral-level nurse anesthesia program. The payoff is substantial — CRNAs earn a median of over $212,650 annually. Athletic training offers a more direct educational path and a career focused on musculoskeletal health and sports medicine. The best choice depends on your interests, long-term goals, and how much additional education you're willing to pursue.
I believe athletic training is an excellent career choice in 2025 and beyond. The profession offers strong job growth (14% projected over the next decade), diverse work settings, high job satisfaction, and increasingly competitive salaries. As someone who works in the healthcare careers space every day, I see the demand for qualified athletic trainers growing across hospitals, clinics, schools, and sports organizations. It's a career that combines clinical expertise with a passion for helping people stay active and healthy.
So, how much do athletic trainers make? The answer ranges from about $37,000 for entry-level positions in lower-paying markets to over $83,000 for experienced professionals in high-paying settings — with some earning well into six figures in leadership or elite sports roles. The national median of $56,420 provides a solid foundation, and there are clear pathways to increase your earning potential through specialization, advanced credentials, strategic career moves, and geographic flexibility.
Athletic training is a profession on the rise within allied health and medicine, and I'm excited to see how compensation continues to evolve as the field grows. Whether you're just starting your educational journey or you're an experienced athletic trainer looking for your next opportunity, we're here to help. At healthcareers.app, we're committed to connecting healthcare professionals like you with the career opportunities and salary information you need to make confident decisions about your future.
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