Job description
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.
Duties
- Recognise and evaluate injuries
- Provide first aid or emergency care
- Educate athletes on proper techniques in exercise
- Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as braces and bandages
- Advise athletes on how to correctly use athletic equipment
- Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches and physicians
- Evaluate athletes’ readiness to play and provide clearances as appropriate
- Perform administrative tasks such as keeping records and writing reports
Skills, qualities and knowledge
Working hours and environment
Average working hours
40hweek
Typical schedule
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.
Salary
Bottom 10%
$31k
Median
$48k
Top 10%
$71k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Qualifications and training
Education level
Undergraduate
DVM / VMD degree
Study time
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.
Job outlook
Projected growth
19%%
No of new jobs
5.9k
Automation risk
0.71%
Career progression
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.