Occupation · SOC 29-9091
Athletic Trainers
Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Median wage
$60,250
$45,380–$84,100
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
28,950
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
273 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionActive LearningService OrientationInstructingWritingTime ManagementComplex Problem SolvingLearning StrategiesCoordinationPersuasionSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringNegotiationScienceOperations AnalysisMathematicsTroubleshootingOperation and ControlTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionProgrammingEquipment MaintenanceRepairingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityAdministrativeBiologyAdministration and ManagementSociology and AnthropologyComputers and ElectronicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematicsLaw and GovernmentPhysicsChemistryCommunications and MediaMechanicalProduction and ProcessingSales and MarketingTransportationPhilosophy and TheologyDesignEngineering and TechnologyEconomics and AccountingGeographyTelecommunicationsForeign LanguageBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionFine ArtsHistory and Archeology
Technology & tools
BioEx Systems Exercise ProDatabase softwareDigital Coach AthleticTrainerEmail softwareImPACT Applications ImPACTInjury tracking softwareKeffer Development Services Athletic Trainer System ATSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPremier Software Simtrak MobilityScheduling softwareSpreadsheet softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkThinking CreativelyGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCoaching and Developing OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationWorking with ComputersTraining and Teaching OthersProcessing InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Initial injury assessments — conduct under direct supervision using standardized protocols to determine emergency care needs for athletes in a collegiate or clinical training setting.Protective taping and bracing techniques — apply to ankles, fingers, and wrists following established procedures under the guidance of a supervising athletic trainer on a practice field.Athletic training room sanitation — clean and sanitize equipment, surfaces, and treatment areas according to infection control standards in a sports medicine facility.Athlete progress notes — document recovery status and treatment sessions using electronic medical record software under clinical supervision.Physical therapy modalities — operate basic equipment such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation units under direct oversight in a sports medicine clinic.Emergency action plans — recognize and follow established protocols when an athlete presents with an acute injury or sudden illness during a supervised practice or competition.Injury prevention devices — select and apply tape, bandages, and braces to appropriate body parts based on pre-approved protocols during team practice sessions.Administrative records — maintain athlete files, scheduling logs, and injury reports using office suite and calendar software in a sports medicine department.Referral documentation — prepare clear written summaries of athlete injury presentations to support physician referral under the direction of a licensed athletic trainer.Preventive health instructions — deliver basic injury-prevention information to athletes and coaches using prepared materials in a structured team or classroom setting.
developing
Injury and illness assessments — conduct independent initial evaluations of musculoskeletal and systemic conditions to determine care pathways for athletes across multiple sport programs.Return-to-play clearances — evaluate athletes' functional readiness and provide participation clearances based on clinical examination findings and established criteria in a high school or collegiate environment.Progress reporting — assess and communicate recovery milestones to coaches and team physicians using objective outcome measures and standardized reporting tools.Therapeutic intervention plans — design and implement individualized rehabilitation programs using physical therapy equipment and evidence-based techniques in a sports medicine clinic.Protective device selection — determine appropriate taping, bracing, and padding strategies for injury prevention and management across diverse sport and position demands.Athlete education sessions — instruct athletes, parents, and coaches on injury prevention, nutrition, and safe sport participation using clear oral and written communication in group settings.Medical software utilization — manage athlete health records, treatment logs, and scheduling data using medical database and electronic mail platforms in a multi-sport department.Clinical decision-making — apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to differentiate between conditions requiring immediate physician referral and those manageable within the athletic training scope.Time management under workload pressure — prioritize assessment and treatment tasks across overlapping practice and competition schedules in a high-demand collegiate athletic environment.Community safety outreach — present injury prevention and emergency response information to parents and community members using presentation software in public or school-based settings.
proficient
Comprehensive injury evaluation — conduct autonomous, full-scope assessments of acute and chronic athletic injuries and illnesses, integrating clinical findings to direct emergency and ongoing care without supervisory input.Physician collaboration and referral — synthesize assessment data, generate differential diagnoses, and prepare detailed referral communications to physicians to ensure definitive diagnosis and coordinated treatment planning.Advanced rehabilitation programming — design and supervise multi-phase rehabilitation protocols using the full range of physical therapy equipment and manual techniques for athletes with complex or high-stakes injuries.Readiness-to-participate decisions — independently evaluate biomechanical, physiological, and psychological factors to issue or withhold sport participation clearances under time-sensitive competition conditions.Non-routine clinical problem-solving — apply inductive reasoning and complex problem-solving skills to manage atypical presentations, comorbidities, and multi-system injuries in professional or collegiate sport contexts.Stakeholder reporting and advocacy — produce comprehensive written and verbal progress reports for coaches, medical staff, and administrators that influence treatment decisions and athlete welfare policies.Mentorship of emerging clinicians — guide and supervise students and early-career athletic trainers through clinical rotations, modeling professional judgment and clinical reasoning in a sports medicine department.Emergency response leadership — lead on-field emergency management, direct ancillary personnel, and coordinate with emergency medical services during acute life-threatening events at large-scale athletic competitions.Evidence-based practice integration — critically appraise current research literature and translate findings into updated clinical protocols, treatment guidelines, and staff training materials.Program administration — manage athletic training department operations including budget tracking, compliance documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination using administrative and data management software.
advanced
Organizational clinical strategy — define and direct the vision, standards, and clinical quality framework for a sports medicine program across a multi-sport professional, collegiate, or healthcare organization.System-level policy development — author and implement institutional policies on injury prevention, return-to-play criteria, and emergency action planning that align with national professional standards and accreditation requirements.Leadership and talent development — design structured competency development pathways, mentorship programs, and performance evaluation systems to grow a high-performing athletic training staff.Interprofessional team leadership — lead integrated care teams comprising physicians, physical therapists, psychologists, and strength staff to deliver coordinated athlete health services at an organizational scale.Research and scholarship direction — conceive, fund, and oversee original research initiatives or evidence synthesis projects that advance the science and practice of athletic training at a national level.Advocacy and public health influence — represent the profession before regulatory bodies, athletic associations, and legislative stakeholders to shape public policy on athlete safety and scope-of-practice legislation.Executive reporting and governance — present strategic program outcomes, risk assessments, and resource plans to boards of directors, athletic directors, or executive healthcare leadership using data-driven narratives.Curriculum and academic leadership — develop and lead graduate-level athletic training education programs, ensuring alignment with CAATE accreditation standards and preparing the next generation of practitioners.Cross-institutional crisis management — direct organizational response to large-scale medical emergencies, epidemics, or catastrophic injury events, coordinating communication, logistics, and care protocols across departments.Culture of safety and performance — establish and sustain an organizational culture that prioritizes athlete health, ethical practice, and psychological safety across all levels of a sport or healthcare enterprise.
Also known as
17 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Athletic InstructorAthletic LecturerAthletic TrainerCertified Athletic TrainerClinical Athletic InstructorClinical Athletic TrainerFitness SpecialistLicensed Athletic TrainerOn-Site Industrial Athletic TrainerOutreach Athletic TrainerPersonal TrainerPhysical TrainerResident Athletic TrainerSports Athletic TrainerSports Medicine TrainerSports TrainerWomen's Athletic Trainer