Athletic trainers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$60,250
~$29/hr · ~$5,021/mo
US Jobs
34K
Much faster than average
AI & Automation Risk
3/10
Low Risk
AI & Automation Risk
Low Risk 3/10
The core duties of athletic trainers—such as applying tape/braces, providing emergency first aid on the field, and performing manual rehabilitation—require physical presence and tactile skills that AI cannot replicate. While AI can assist with peripheral tasks like injury analysis, record-keeping, and designing recovery protocols, the job remains fundamentally grounded in real-time human interaction and physical healthcare delivery.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TXBEST VALUE | $79,700 | Below avg (85.7) | $93,000 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $78,550 | Below avg (86.1) | $91,258 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $80,560 | Below avg (93.0) | $86,599 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $75,750 | Below avg (91.7) | $82,594 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,510 | Average (99.7) | $78,719 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $71,200 | Below avg (91.2) | $78,075 |
| El Paso, TX | $69,780 | Below avg (90.8) | $76,863 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $70,980 | Below avg (94.3) | $75,248 |
| Rochester, MN | $69,810 | Below avg (93.0) | $75,098 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $76,300 | Average (102.4) | $74,499 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $66,030 | Below avg (91.4) | $72,207 |
| Lubbock, TX | $65,680 | Below avg (91.0) | $72,184 |
| Tulsa, OK | $64,850 | Below avg (89.9) | $72,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,150 | Above avg (107.3) | $71,874 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $62,950 | Below avg (89.1) | $70,623 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Master's degree
10-Year Growth
+11% (Much faster than average)
Hourly Rate
~$29/hr
Monthly Income
~$5,021/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)