Athletic Trainer Salary

The athletic trainer salary ranges from USD 30, 000 per annum to USD 60, 000 per annum. Factors that influence the athletic trainers salary are education and training, experience, location and credentials held. A trainer with a bachelor’s degree would start off with about USD 30, 000 per annum while a trainer with a doctorate may get a salary of USD 60, 000 per annum. Similarly a head athletic trainer would get an average salary of USD 35, 000 per annum while the consultant athletic trainer salary would be about USD 60, 000 per annum.

Trained in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, athletic trainers normally work under a licensed physician and in tandem with physical therapists, massage therapists, dietitians and others. To be an athletic trainer it is essential to have a basic bachelor's degree in athletic training from an accredited undergraduate program and ideally, an advanced degree as well. At the undergraduate level you would be dealing with subjects such as risk management, Prevention of injuries, Evaluation of injury, Emergency care, Therapy, Training administration, Human anatomy and physiology, Exercise physiology, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Psychology, pharmacology, Pathology of injury, Health care administration, Professional development and responsibilities. The course requires you to undergo a two-year clinical training under an approved clinical instructor. The clinical training would include internship, laboratory, field courses in hospitals, emergency rooms, sports medicine clinics, high schools or universities sports events and athletic training rooms. After the program, you must pass the certification exam conducted by the Board of Certification (BOC) and then you are a certified athletic trainer or an ATC. You could specialize in prevention of injuries, assessment of injuries, rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuries, health care administration and education and counseling.

As a certified ATC you have a wide market to apply for jobs and they include Schools, Colleges, Universities, Professional sports, Sports Medicine Clinics, Corporate sector, health clubs and athletic training education programs. The job is interesting, dynamic and challenging as it deals with a highly competitive and physical aspect of our lives. Growth potential is tremendous in this field as the job responsibilities get more clearly defined. As an Athletic trainers you would do well if you are patient, have an ability to work with a team and are constantly learning about the advancements in the field.