Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Athletic Trainers
Athletic Trainers evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Table of contents
What they do
Athletic Trainers evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
- Evaluate athletes’ readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
- Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Athletic Trainers apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists. They care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
A typical day for an Athletic Trainer will also include:
- Evaluate athletes’ readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
- Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
- Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure players.
- 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.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Athletic Trainers also travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events. They may also accompany injured athletes to hospitals.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Athletic Trainers recommend special diets to improve athletes’ health, increase their stamina, or alter their weight. They might also file athlete insurance claims and communicate with insurance providers.
In addition, they collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them advise athletes on the proper use of equipment.
To some Athletic Trainers, it is also their responsibility to massage body parts to relieve soreness, strains, or bruises.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
78% said they were satisfied with their job and 77% said they found their job meaningful.
I am a full time Eventing and Dressage trainer working with high level amateur equestrian riders.
A typical work day starts before the sun comes up. I review my coaching plan with each rider. Training involves both the animal and the rider and it is focused on progression so detailed notes are taken every day.
Following that each competitor spends about an hour and a half training in saddle.
Most athletes will get the afternoon off from specific training but in the evening another hour and a half of ground training is completed by each athlete.
Easily the best part of my job is working with the horses and the riders. Watching them progress and achieve their goals is incredibly inspiring.
The cons are when injuries happen (which is frequent). I never want to see a rider hurt and sidelined. It’s heartbreaking when an athlete has to sit on the sidelines.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Salary is below average.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Athletic Trainers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $32,980 to $41,310 per year or $* to $* per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $75,810 | $* |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $61,280 | $* |
| Median | $49,860 | $* |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $41,310 | $* |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $32,980 | $* |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Athletic Trainers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Spectator Sports | $64250 | $* |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $62500 | $* |
| Junior Colleges | $59830 | $* |
| Employment Services | $54080 | $* |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $53870 | $* |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $53720 | $* |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $52390 | $* |
| Specialty Hospitals | $52050 | $* |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $52010 | $* |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $50360 | $* |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Athletic Trainers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Athletic Trainers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 5760 | $53870 | $* |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 5610 | $50360 | $* |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 4350 | $47380 | $* |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 3140 | $62500 | $* |
| Offices of Physicians | 3060 | $50150 | $* |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 1610 | $49040 | $* |
| Spectator Sports | 760 | $64250 | $* |
| Junior Colleges | 550 | $59830 | $* |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 340 | $52010 | $* |
| Civic and Social Organizations | 320 | $46240 | $* |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Athletic Training/Trainer
Physical Fitness Technician
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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