How much does an Athletic Trainer make?
An Athletic Trainer earns a median annual salary of $62,520 in the United States, which works out to roughly $30.06 per hour for full-time work. Most Athletic Trainers earn between $48,180 at the entry level and $88,760 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $55,130 and $74,630 a year.
That is $1,130 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Athletic Trainer salary range by percentile
Half of all Athletic Trainers earn between $55,130 and $74,630 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,180 | $23.16 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,130 | $26.50 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,520 | $30.06 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,630 | $35.88 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,760 | $42.67 |
Highest-paying states for Athletic Trainer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Athletic Trainer pay at $78,490 a year, followed by Hawaii ($76,320) and New Jersey ($76,210). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $46,940 — a gap of $31,550 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78,490 | $37.74 | +26% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $76,320 | $36.69 | +22% |
| 3 | New Jersey | $76,210 | $36.64 | +22% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $74,450 | $35.79 | +19% |
| 5 | New Mexico | $72,440 | $34.83 | +16% |
Athletic Trainer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 31,000 people work as Athletic Trainers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $66,620 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other healthcare roles with similar pay.