Best degree programs for Athletic Trainers, ranked by enrollment
2 college programs and 402 schools train Athletic Trainers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $62,520 median wage, 30,500 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
2 college programs at 402 schools train athletic trainers, graduating 4,777 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Athletic Training/Trainer. The job pays a median of $62,520 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About athletic trainers
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
An athletic trainer is a certified and licensed health care provider who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession since 1990.
Read more on Wikipedia →Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
2 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 51.0913 | 3,326 | 69.6% | 302 | $53,520 | $20,250 |
| 2 | CIP 31.0507 | 1,451 | 30.4% | 118 | $30,426 | $25,643 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 119 | Physical Fitness Technician | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 114 | Physical Fitness Technician | 61% | — | 90% |
| 3 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 106 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 16% | — | — |
| 4 | Focus Personal Training Institute New York, NY Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 94 | Physical Fitness Technician | 79% | $19,748 | — |
| 5 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 70 | Physical Fitness Technician | 48% | — | — |
| 6 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 65 | Physical Fitness Technician | 54% | — | 76% |
| 7 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 56 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 86% | — | 24% |
| 8 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 71% | — | 78% |
| 9 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 49 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 59% | — | 90% |
| 10 | MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 49 | Physical Fitness Technician | 41% | — | — |
| 11 | A T Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 46 | Athletic Training/Trainer | — | — | — |
| 12 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 46 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 58% | — | 91% |
| 13 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder programs | 46 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 79% | — | 60% |
| 14 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 45 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 75% | — | 89% |
| 15 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · 1 feeder programs | 45 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 71% | — | 82% |
| 16 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 43 | Physical Fitness Technician | 63% | — | 89% |
| 17 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 43 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 43% | — | 92% |
| 18 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 42 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 65% | — | 85% |
| 19 | National Personal Training Institute Orlando, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 41 | Physical Fitness Technician | 93% | $12,771 | — |
| 20 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 40 | Physical Fitness Technician | 42% | — | — |
| 21 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 40 | Physical Fitness Technician | 68% | — | 60% |
| 22 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 37 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 68% | — | 93% |
| 23 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 36 | Physical Fitness Technician | 48% | — | — |
| 24 | Springfield College Springfield, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 36 | Physical Fitness Technician | 74% | $26,290 | 72% |
| 25 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 35 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 18% | — | — |
| 26 | Marshall University Huntington, WV Public · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 51% | — | 96% |
| 27 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Ponce, PR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 34 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 49% | $13,112 | 98% |
| 28 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 88% | — | 61% |
| 29 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Physical Fitness Technician | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 30 | University of Puerto Rico at Ponce Ponce, PR Public · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 46% | — | 52% |
| 31 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 60% | — | 87% |
| 32 | University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR Public · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 49% | — | 57% |
| 33 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Physical Fitness Technician | 16% | — | — |
| 34 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Physical Fitness Technician | 35% | — | — |
| 35 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Physical Fitness Technician | 48% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · 1 feeder programs | 27 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 81% | — | 71% |
| 37 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 26 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 68% | $24,409 | 78% |
| 38 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 39 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Physical Fitness Technician | 30% | — | — |
| 40 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 75% | — | 80% |
| 41 | National Personal Training Institute - Tampa Tampa, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Physical Fitness Technician | 100% | $13,709 | — |
| 42 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 23 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 67% | — | 78% |
| 43 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 22 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 59% | — | 78% |
| 44 | Lionel University Carpinteria, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Physical Fitness Technician | 67% | $28,929 | — |
| 45 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Physical Fitness Technician | 16% | — | — |
| 46 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 40% | $24,126 | 80% |
| 47 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 74% | — | 55% |
| 48 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 55% | — | 88% |
| 49 | Riverside City College Riverside, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 20 | Physical Fitness Technician | 37% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Idaho Moscow, ID Public · 1 feeder programs | 20 | Athletic Training/Trainer | 57% | — | 76% |
What athletic trainers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78,490 | 1,760 | 0.49× | 57 | 750 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | 2,100 | 1.93× | 17 | 292 |
| Arizona | $61,710 | 590 | 0.93× | 12 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,060 | 1,870 | 1.58× | 24 | 281 |
| Florida | $61,350 | 1,430 | 0.73× | 17 | 255 |
| New York | $66,230 | 1,370 | 0.72× | 14 | 217 |
| Texas | $64,150 | 3,130 | 1.13× | 27 | 217 |
| Missouri | $58,660 | 510 | 0.89× | 12 | 197 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | 1,040 | 1.66× | 11 | 145 |
| Michigan | $59,280 | 870 | 1.01× | 13 | 139 |
| Wisconsin | $61,820 | 620 | 1.07× | 15 | 131 |
| Iowa | $55,430 | 570 | 1.86× | 8 | 124 |
| Illinois | $64,750 | 850 | 0.71× | 10 | 106 |
| Virginia | $61,860 | 830 | 1.03× | 11 | 104 |
| North Carolina | $56,540 | 990 | 1.02× | 7 | 102 |
| Kansas | $59,140 | 390 | 1.37× | 9 | 90 |
| Utah | $65,980 | 340 | 0.99× | 8 | 76 |
| South Carolina | $59,240 | 530 | 1.17× | 5 | 75 |
| Georgia | $64,590 | 860 | 0.90× | 8 | 74 |
| Massachusetts | $70,010 | 630 | 0.88× | 6 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $65,390 | 820 | 1.42× | 9 | 65 |
| New Jersey | $76,210 | 890 | 1.06× | 6 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $50,510 | 110 | 0.84× | 5 | 60 |
| Nebraska | $61,020 | 270 | 1.36× | 5 | 56 |
| Washingtonmoderate | $63,750 | 240 | 0.35× | 3 | 51 |
| Alabama | $46,940 | 840 | 2.02× | 7 | 48 |
| Tennessee | $59,850 | 580 | 0.90× | 5 | 45 |
| Colorado | $64,580 | 380 | 0.67× | 6 | 44 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $69,960 | 290 | 0.86× | 4 | 44 |
| Idahomoderate | $60,410 | 170 | 1.04× | 4 | 43 |
| Mississippimoderate | $58,180 | 200 | 0.89× | 4 | 42 |
| Arkansasmoderate | $57,240 | 240 | 0.93× | 4 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 | 720 | 1.83× | 5 | 38 |
| Oregon | $57,790 | 280 | 0.73× | 5 | 35 |
| Mainemoderate | $61,970 | 180 | 1.47× | 3 | 33 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $61,320 | 360 | 1.08× | 3 | 29 |
| Delawarelimited | $59,650 | 50 | 0.50× | 1 | 27 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $72,440 | 150 | 0.89× | 3 | 25 |
| North Dakotamoderate | $60,900 | 110 | 1.29× | 4 | 24 |
| Nevadalimited | $59,820 | 180 | 0.60× | 2 | 24 |
| Marylandmoderate | $63,970 | 320 | 0.60× | 3 | 20 |
| South Dakotamoderate | $58,620 | 150 | 1.66× | 3 | 20 |
| Louisianamoderate | $62,760 | 810 | 2.13× | 3 | 19 |
| Vermontlimited | $62,910 | 140 | 2.29× | 1 | 12 |
| Wyomingmoderate | $63,190 | 60 | 1.03× | 3 | 11 |
| Montanalimited | $60,090 | 50 | 0.51× | 2 | 10 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $60,200 | 210 | 1.54× | 1 | 8 |
| Hawaiilimited | $76,320 | 200 | 1.60× | 1 | 7 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $63,750 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
- Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
- Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
- Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
- Clean and sanitize athletic training rooms.
- Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
- Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
Skills
- Active Listening4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Writing3.5
- Learning Strategies3.1
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.6
- Customer and Personal Service4.4
- Psychology4.2
- Therapy and Counseling3.9
- English Language3.7
- Education and Training3.6
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.1
- Oral Expression4.0
- Written Comprehension3.9
- Speech Clarity3.9
- Speech Recognition3.9
- Inductive Reasoning3.8
Core activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.9
- Documenting/Recording Information4.9
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.7
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.2
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.0
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Athletic Trainer
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Athletic Trainers2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 31.0507Physical Fitness Technician
- 51.0913Athletic Training/Trainer
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Athletic Trainer?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Athletic Training/Trainer, which awarded 3,326 degrees in 2024-25, 69.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Athletic Trainer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this occupation. The largest are Allied Health Diagnostic, Sports. Together they graduate about 4,777 people a year.
How much do athletic trainers earn?+
The median is $62,520 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $48,180 at the 10th percentile to $88,760 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for athletic trainers growing?+
BLS projects a +11.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 2,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
402 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do athletic trainers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Athletic Trainer, Personal Trainer, Athletic Instructor, Certified Athletic Trainer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 29-9091.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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