Athletic Trainer salary in the U.S.
Athletic Trainers in the U.S. earn a median of $62,520 a year, based on BLS data for 30,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,760 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $66,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for athletic trainers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,180 |
| 25th percentile | $55,130 |
| Median | $62,520 |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,760 |
| Average (mean) | $66,620 |
Half of athletic trainers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,210 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,605 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,404.62 |
| Weekly | $1,202.31 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because athletic trainers are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Athletic Trainer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Best-paying metro areas for athletic trainers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,630 | 120 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $82,480 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,950 | 240 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $78,910 | 50 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $78,580 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,840 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,580 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,890 | 560 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $76,500 | 1,330 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,540 | 160 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,390 | 390 |
| Fresno, CA | $74,650 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $73,770 | 200 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $72,800 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $72,780 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most athletic trainers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,330 | $76,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 790 | $62,520 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 770 | $63,840 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 650 | $64,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 650 | $65,780 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 560 | $76,890 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 490 | $71,880 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 490 | $63,560 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 490 | $65,830 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 480 | $72,150 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 460 | $61,710 |
| Cleveland, OH | 430 | $61,800 |
| Columbus, OH | 430 | $61,420 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 430 | $63,370 |
| Birmingham, AL | 400 | $46,280 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $65,790 | $31.63 |
| Surgical Assistant | $66,800 | $32.11 |
| Genetic Counselor | $100,040 | $48.09 |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-9091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a athletic trainer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for athletic trainers in the U.S. is $62,520 a year. Pay ranges from $48,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid athletic trainers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of athletic trainers in the U.S. earn at least $88,760 a year. The top 25% earn $74,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for athletic trainers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,180 a year, and a quarter of athletic trainers earn $55,130 or less.
How many athletic trainers work in the U.S.?
About 30,500 athletic trainers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.