Athletic trainers work with physicians and other healthcare professionals to offer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services to injured athletes. Not to be confused with fitness trainers (who instruct people in exercise activities), athletic trainers practise in the field of sports medicine.
40hweek
Full Time
Nights, weekends, holidays occasionally
Athletic trainers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation and therapy clinics. Others work in the military, for professional sports teams or with performing artists.
You’ll spend most of your time outdoors in all sorts of weather, and you may often be required to work nights and weekends during sporting events. Travel, both local and international, is also common.
$31k
$48k
$71k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Undergraduate
DVM / VMD degree
4years
You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in athletic training accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in order to become an athletic trainer.
Most states require athletic trainers to be licensed or certified. Requirements vary by state, but generally include the completion of a CAATE-accredited programme and the Board of Certification (BOC) exam or a separate state exam.
19%%
5.9k
0.71%
You’ll typically start as an assistant athletic trainer and, with experience, can move up to a head athletic trainer or athletic director position. You can also progress to a management role as a hospital administrator within a hospital, clinical department or private practice. Advancement into a sales or marketing position is also possible, selling medical and athletic equipment.