Athletic Trainer salary in Illinois
Athletic Trainers in Illinois earn a median of $64,750 a year, based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,020 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $62,520. Illinois ranks 11th of 50 states for athletic trainers pay. There are 0.14 athletic trainers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $68,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for athletic trainers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,240 |
| 25th percentile | $53,510 |
| Median | $64,750 |
| 75th percentile | $76,560 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,020 |
| Average (mean) | $68,510 |
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 | $5,395.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,697.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,490.38 |
| Weekly | $1,245.19 |
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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,780 | 650 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $65,400 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,900 | 160 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Assistant | $80,210 | $38.56 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $72,610 | $34.91 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Genetic Counselor | $95,880 | $46.10 |
| Registered Nurse | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Physicians, All Other | $132,540 | $63.72 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| Pharmacist | $139,080 | $66.86 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,680 | $62.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $95,080 | $45.71 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for athletic trainers in Illinois is $64,750 a year. Pay ranges from $49,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid athletic trainers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of athletic trainers in Illinois earn at least $93,020 a year. The top 25% earn $76,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for athletic trainers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,240 a year, and a quarter of athletic trainers earn $53,510 or less.
How many athletic trainers work in Illinois?
About 850 athletic trainers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.