Athletic Trainer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Athletic Trainers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $65,780 a year, based on BLS data for 650 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,800 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $62,520. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $64,750. There are 0.14 athletic trainers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $69,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for athletic trainers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,280 |
| 25th percentile | $55,750 |
| Median | $65,780 |
| 75th percentile | $77,820 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,800 |
| Average (mean) | $69,700 |
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 | $5,481.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,740.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,530 |
| Weekly | $1,265 |
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 in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $67,210 | 30 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $65,400 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $63,380 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $63,370 | 430 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,010 | 400 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,190 | 240 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,900 | 160 |
| Muncie, IN | $59,120 | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,290 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $52,120 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for athletic trainers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $78,490 |
| Hawaii | $76,320 |
| New Jersey | $76,210 |
| District of Columbia | $74,450 |
| New Mexico | $72,440 |
| Massachusetts | $70,010 |
| Connecticut | $69,960 |
| New York | $66,230 |
| Utah | $65,980 |
| Minnesota | $65,390 |
See Athletic Trainer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Assistant | $80,210 | $38.56 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $63,310 | $30.44 |
| Genetic Counselor | $95,880 | $46.10 |
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $94,820 | $45.59 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Pharmacist | $140,880 | $67.73 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $63.34 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for athletic trainers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $65,780 a year. Pay ranges from $50,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid athletic trainers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of athletic trainers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $89,800 a year. The top 25% earn $77,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for athletic trainers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,280 a year, and a quarter of athletic trainers earn $55,750 or less.
How many athletic trainers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 650 athletic trainers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.