Athletic Trainers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for athletic trainerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $66,620 ≈ $32/hr
National median salary $62,520
Total employment 30,500 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +11.1%
Much faster than average
Annual openings 2,400 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 33,900 → 37,600 (+3,800)
Typical entry education Master's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$84,310
- California$80,780
- New Jersey$79,790
- Connecticut$74,680
- Massachusetts$74,390
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Alabama$50,760
- West Virginia$54,500
- Iowa$56,170
- Tennessee$57,670
- South Dakota$57,880
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $84,310 | $74,450 | $41 | +26.6% | 100 |
| 2 | California | $80,780 | $78,490 | $39 | +21.3% | 1,760 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $79,790 | $76,210 | $38 | +19.8% | 890 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $74,680 | $69,960 | $36 | +12.1% | 290 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $74,390 | $70,010 | $36 | +11.7% | 630 |
| 6 | New York | $73,730 | $66,230 | $35 | +10.7% | 1,370 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $72,560 | $76,320 | $35 | +8.9% | 200 |
| 8 | Georgia | $72,490 | $64,590 | $35 | +8.8% | 860 |
| 9 | Texas | $71,800 | $64,150 | $35 | +7.8% | 3,130 |
| 10 | Utah | $70,450 | $65,980 | $34 | +5.7% | 340 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $70,060 | $72,440 | $34 | +5.2% | 150 |
| 12 | Colorado | $69,050 | $64,580 | $33 | +3.6% | 380 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $68,750 | $65,390 | $33 | +3.2% | 820 |
| 14 | Illinois | $68,510 | $64,750 | $33 | +2.8% | 850 |
| 15 | Montana | $67,950 | $60,090 | $33 | +2% | 50 |
| 16 | Washington | $67,670 | $63,750 | $33 | +1.6% | 240 |
| 17 | Idaho | $67,210 | $60,410 | $32 | +0.9% | 170 |
| 18 | Maryland | $67,130 | $63,970 | $32 | +0.8% | 320 |
| 19 | Virginia | $66,890 | $61,860 | $32 | +0.4% | 830 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $65,870 | $61,820 | $32 | -1.1% | 620 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $65,760 | $63,750 | $32 | -1.3% | — |
| 22 | Arizona | $65,640 | $61,710 | $32 | -1.5% | 590 |
| 23 | Oregon | $65,530 | $57,790 | $32 | -1.6% | 280 |
| 24 | Vermont | $65,210 | $62,910 | $31 | -2.1% | 140 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $64,950 | $60,200 | $31 | -2.5% | 210 |
| 26 | Delaware | $64,850 | $59,650 | $31 | -2.7% | 50 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $64,850 | $62,760 | $31 | -2.7% | 810 |
| 28 | Florida | $64,040 | $61,350 | $31 | -3.9% | 1,430 |
| 29 | Maine | $63,860 | $61,970 | $31 | -4.1% | 180 |
| 30 | Nevada | $63,760 | $59,820 | $31 | -4.3% | 180 |
| 31 | Indiana | $63,680 | $62,780 | $31 | -4.4% | 1,040 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $63,320 | $63,190 | $30 | -5% | 60 |
| 33 | Ohio | $63,040 | $61,420 | $30 | -5.4% | 2,100 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $62,510 | $61,060 | $30 | -6.2% | 1,870 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $62,310 | $61,320 | $30 | -6.5% | 360 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $62,140 | $61,020 | $30 | -6.7% | 270 |
| 37 | Michigan | $61,790 | $59,280 | $30 | -7.3% | 870 |
| 38 | Kansas | $61,410 | $59,140 | $30 | -7.8% | 390 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $61,320 | $60,680 | $29 | -8% | 720 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $60,320 | $60,900 | $29 | -9.5% | 110 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $60,080 | $58,180 | $29 | -9.8% | 200 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $59,800 | $56,540 | $29 | -10.2% | 990 |
| 43 | Missouri | $59,620 | $58,660 | $29 | -10.5% | 510 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $58,840 | $57,240 | $28 | -11.7% | 240 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $58,820 | $59,240 | $28 | -11.7% | 530 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $57,880 | $58,620 | $28 | -13.1% | 150 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $57,670 | $59,850 | $28 | -13.4% | 580 |
| 48 | Iowa | $56,170 | $55,430 | $27 | -15.7% | 570 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $54,500 | $50,510 | $26 | -18.2% | 110 |
| 50 | Alabama | $50,760 | $46,940 | $24 | -23.8% | 840 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 200 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $89,630 | $91,240 | 120 |
| 2 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $82,480 | $81,150 | 90 |
| 3 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,950 | $80,560 | 240 |
| 4 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $78,910 | $80,540 | 50 |
| 5 | Corpus Christi, TX | $78,580 | $78,020 | 50 |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $77,840 | $84,990 | 250 |
| 7 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,580 | $78,620 | 60 |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,890 | $80,940 | 560 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $76,500 | $81,290 | 1,330 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,540 | $71,310 | 160 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing athletic trainerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, State Government Owned | $78,180 | $83,370 | 120 |
| 2 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, Local Government Owned | $75,480 | $77,080 | 3,550 |
| 3 | Educational Services, Local Government Owned | $74,950 | $76,530 | 4,150 |
| 4 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | $74,760 | $76,210 | 4,780 |
| 5 | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $74,090 | $83,960 | 1,880 |
| 6 | Spectator Sports | $74,090 | $84,210 | 1,830 |
| 7 | Junior Colleges, Local Government Owned | $73,950 | $77,140 | 460 |
| 8 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,770 | $75,400 | — |
| 9 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,770 | $75,400 | — |
| 10 | Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $71,810 | $80,530 | 2,190 |
| 11 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $71,690 | $74,340 | 4,970 |
| 12 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, Privately Owned | $70,240 | $72,660 | 1,110 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do athletic trainers make in the U.S.?
The median athletic trainers salary in the United States is $62,520 per year (mean $66,620), and about 80% earn between $48,180 and $88,760.
How much do athletic trainers make per hour?
Roughly $32 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $66,620 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays athletic trainers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for athletic trainers at $84,310 per year (median $74,450).
What is the job outlook for athletic trainers?
Employment is projected to change +11.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 2,400 openings per year.