How much does a athletic trainer make?
The median athletic trainer in the United States earns $62,520 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all athletic trainers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-9091.
Athletic trainer salary range
Pay for athletic trainers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,180 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $88,760. The average (mean) wage of $66,620 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,180 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $55,130 | |
| Median (50th) | $62,520 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 | |
| 90th percentile | $88,760 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for athletic trainers (SOC 29-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Athletic trainer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Athletic trainers earn the most in California at $78,490 a year, and the least in Alabama at $46,940. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $78,490 | 1,760 |
| Hawaii | $76,320 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $76,210 | 890 |
| District of Columbia | $74,450 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $72,440 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $70,010 | 630 |
| Connecticut | $69,960 | 290 |
| New York | $66,230 | 1,370 |
| Utah | $65,980 | 340 |
| Minnesota | $65,390 | 820 |
| Illinois | $64,750 | 850 |
| Georgia | $64,590 | 860 |
| Colorado | $64,580 | 380 |
| Texas | $64,150 | 3,130 |
| Maryland | $63,970 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $63,750 | N/A |
| Washington | $63,750 | 240 |
| Wyoming | $63,190 | 60 |
| Vermont | $62,910 | 140 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $62,760 | 810 |
| Maine | $61,970 | 180 |
| Virginia | $61,860 | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $61,820 | 620 |
| Arizona | $61,710 | 590 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | 2,100 |
| Florida | $61,350 | 1,430 |
| Oklahoma | $61,320 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,060 | 1,870 |
| Nebraska | $61,020 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $60,900 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 | 720 |
| Idaho | $60,410 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $60,200 | 210 |
| Montana | $60,090 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $59,850 | 580 |
| Nevada | $59,820 | 180 |
| Delaware | $59,650 | 50 |
| Michigan | $59,280 | 870 |
| South Carolina | $59,240 | 530 |
| Kansas | $59,140 | 390 |
| Missouri | $58,660 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $58,620 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $58,180 | 200 |
| Oregon | $57,790 | 280 |
| Arkansas | $57,240 | 240 |
| North Carolina | $56,540 | 990 |
| Iowa | $55,430 | 570 |
| West Virginia | $50,510 | 110 |
| Alabama | $46,940 | 840 |
State median wages for athletic trainers (SOC 29-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for athletic trainers
The BLS projects employment of athletic trainers to grow 12.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 35,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 39,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,400 openings a year for athletic trainers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an athletic trainer
The typical entry-level education for athletic trainers is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an athletic trainer earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $78,490) and the lowest (Alabama, $46,940) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 30,500 people work as athletic trainers in the United States. At $62,520 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Athletic trainer salary FAQ
How much does an athletic trainer make an hour?
Athletic trainers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $62,520.
What is the highest athletic trainer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of athletic trainers earn more than $88,760 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an athletic trainer make a year?
The median annual salary for an athletic trainer is $62,520. The average (mean) wage of $66,620 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an athletic trainer a well paid job?
At $62,520 a year, an athletic trainer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 30,500 people work as athletic trainers in the United States.
Which state pays athletic trainers the most?
California has the highest median salary for athletic trainers at $78,490 a year. Hawaii ($76,320) and New Jersey ($76,210) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an athletic trainer a good career?
Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 12.7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an athletic trainer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for athletic trainers as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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