Career Overview
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Also Known As
- Athletic Instructor
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Athletic Trainer
- Personal Trainer
Alternate Job Titles
- Athletic Instructor
- Athletic Lecturer
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Athletic Trainer
- Clinical Athletic Instructor
- Clinical Athletic Trainer
- Fitness Specialist
- Licensed Athletic Trainer
- On-Site Industrial Athletic Trainer
- Outreach Athletic Trainer
- Personal Trainer
- Physical Trainer
- Resident Athletic Trainer
- Sports Athletic Trainer
- Sports Medicine Trainer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Develop emergency action plans for sports facilities.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Instructing
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: 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).
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air splints
- Automated blood pressure cuffs
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Biofeedback equipment
- Body-fat calipers
- Cervical traction units
- Cold therapy equipment
- Crutches
- Desktop computers
- Elliptical trainers
- Emergency response stretchers
- Exercise bands
- Exercise bicycles
- Exercise treadmills
- Exercise tubing
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $45,380 |
| Median | $60,250 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $84,100 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 28,950
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $46,180
Sports Medicine Physicians
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: >$239,200
Exercise Physiologists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $58,160
Physical Therapist Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $65,510
Recreational Therapists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $60,280
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.