2024 Athletic Training Job Market Report Reveals Salary Trends and Key Insights

Prepared by Drs. Cailee Welch Bacon, Julie Cavallario, and Chad Starkey | Data Source: AthleticTrainingData.com

A new independent analysis of job postings on the NATA Career Center reveals encouraging trends—and persistent disparities—in athletic training employment across the U.S. Between January and September 2024, 1,236 full-time and 189 part-time Athletic Trainer (AT) positions were posted. Of the full-time roles, 24% were newly created, and these new positions offered statistically higher salaries than previously existing ones.

Salaries by Setting and Title

The academic setting led in advertised salaries ($81,552 average), while industrial positions ($63,929) and direct-hire secondary school roles ($61,985) outpaced clinical collegiate roles ($53,772). Secondary school outreach jobs—typically clinic-employed—offered lower pay ($56,046) despite similar job responsibilities.

By title, Director of Sports Medicine roles offered the highest average salaries ($73,424), followed by Head Athletic Trainers ($62,236). In contrast, Assistant Athletic Trainers earned significantly less, averaging just $49,714.

Impact of Education and Experience

Experience mattered: salaries rose significantly after two years in the field, with a notable jump for roles requiring five or more years of experience ($78,045). Education also played a role—while most jobs (81%) required only a bachelor’s degree, positions requiring a doctorate averaged $85,155, far outpacing roles needing a bachelor's or master’s.

Geographic Salary Variance

NATA District 8 (primarily the West Coast) boasted the highest regional average at $68,574. Districts 2 (Mid-Atlantic) and 6 (Southwest) followed, while others clustered in a third tier without significant salary differences.

Conclusion

This report, compiled by Athletic Training educators Cailee Welch Bacon, PhD, ATC (A.T. Still University), Julie Cavallario, PhD, ATC (Old Dominion University), and Chad Starkey, PhD, ATC (Ohio University), provides a crucial benchmark for understanding compensation trends and career dynamics in athletic training. It highlights both progress in job creation and continuing disparities by setting, title, and employment model—vital data for Athletic Trainers negotiating their next move.

Full data, assumptions, and visuals available at AthleticTrainingData.com.