Careers · Explore one path
Athletic Trainers
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Other titles employers use
Athletic Instructor · Athletic Lecturer · Athletic Trainer · Certified Athletic Trainer · Personal Trainer · Resident Athletic Trainer · Women's Athletic Trainer · Clinical Athletic Instructor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, practical and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.1 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.6 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.0 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 54%
- A four-year degree 38%
- High school or less 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Medical software
- Calendar and scheduling software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 3,990
- Job openings each year
- 290
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,990 | 290 | 20.2% |
| Florida | 2,290 | 170 | 23.8% |
| California | 2,200 | 160 | 15.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,150 | 150 | 13.2% |
| Ohio | 2,010 | 130 | 11.0% |
| Georgia | 1,620 | 120 | 18.2% |
| Minnesota | 1,560 | 110 | 13.0% |
| Illinois | 1,500 | 110 | 17.2% |
| North Carolina | 1,400 | 100 | 25.0% |
| New York | 1,190 | 20 | 19.0% |
| Arizona | 990 | 70 | 23.8% |
| Indiana | 920 | 60 | 13.6% |
| Wisconsin | 920 | 70 | 19.5% |
| Connecticut | 900 | 60 | 20.0% |
| New Jersey | 860 | 60 | 11.7% |
| Michigan | 840 | 60 | 13.5% |
| Washington | 820 | 80 | 32.3% |
| Tennessee | 780 | 60 | 27.9% |
| Virginia | 740 | 50 | 13.8% |
| South Carolina | 690 | 50 | 16.9% |
| Kansas | 630 | 40 | 12.5% |
| Colorado | 610 | 50 | 24.5% |
| Kentucky | 590 | 40 | 18.0% |
| Alabama | 570 | 40 | 21.3% |
| Louisiana | 510 | 40 | 15.9% |
| Missouri | 480 | 40 | 17.1% |
| Iowa | 390 | 30 | 18.2% |
| Utah | 380 | 30 | 35.7% |
| Maryland | 340 | 30 | 17.2% |
| Nebraska | 310 | 20 | 6.9% |
| Oregon | 300 | 20 | 20.0% |
| Mississippi | 250 | 20 | 13.6% |
| West Virginia | 250 | 20 | 13.6% |
| Massachusetts | 240 | 20 | 20.0% |
| New Hampshire | 220 | 20 | 15.8% |
| Delaware | 210 | 20 | 31.3% |
| Idaho | 210 | 20 | 31.3% |
| Nevada | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Maine | 200 | 10 | 5.3% |
| Arkansas | 190 | 10 | 11.8% |
| South Dakota | 190 | 10 | 18.8% |
| District of Columbia | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| North Dakota | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Vermont | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
| New Mexico | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Rhode Island | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Wyoming | 80 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Montana | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Iowa
- Degrees each year
- 590
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 542
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 477
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 466
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
University of Memphis
- Degrees each year
- 424
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 418
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Degrees each year
- 395
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Degrees each year
- 382
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Compare every college offering sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness