How to Become an Athletic Trainer
Prevent, evaluate, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries for athletes and active patients, often as the first responder on the field. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $62,520 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$62,520/yr
Middle half
$55,130 to $74,630
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
2,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Injury Evaluation
- Rehabilitation
- Emergency Care
- Monitoring
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- BOC ATC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
51/100
Work-life balance
41/100
Stress level
67/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an Athletic Trainer make?
The median pay for an Athletic Trainer is $62,520 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $55,130 and $74,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Athletic Trainer?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Athletic Training, Kinesiology / Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, Kinesiology, and Exercise Science.
Is Athletic Trainer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Athletic Trainer use most?
Common skills for this role are Injury Evaluation, Rehabilitation, Emergency Care, Monitoring, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).