Entry-Level Athletic Trainer Salary (2026): What New Grad ATCs Actually Make
The average entry-level ATC salary is $52,859 per year ($25.41/hour) in 2026, based on the 10th percentile of BLS wage data. New BOC ATC starting pay ranges from $20,361 to $76,411 in San Jose, CA — driven by industrial occupational AT premium, hospital-affiliated high school AT contracts, college graduate-assistant positions, and CAATE master's-mandate transition.
2019 BLS
$31,300
2025 BLS
$48,180
2026 Current Est.
$50,411
2019–2027 Growth
+68.5%
National Entry-Level Athletic Trainer Salary Trend (10th Percentile)
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Entry-Level Salary (P10) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $31,300 | Actual |
| 2020 | $32,980 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,960 | Actual |
| 2022 | $39,670 | Actual |
| 2023 | $43,180 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,380 | Actual |
| 2025 | $48,180 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,411 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,745 | Projected |
Entry-level athletic trainer salaries (10th percentile) have shown consistent growth over 7 years of BLS data. The 10th percentile represents typical starting pay for new graduates and early-career professionals. At the current 4.63% CAGR, starting salaries are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 4.63% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Athletic Trainer Salary by State
Entry-level athletic trainer pay varies dramatically by state. The top-paying states offer starting salaries well above $52,859, while others fall below the national average. Here are all 51 states ranked by average starting salary for athletic trainers.
| # | State | Avg Starting Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $62,046 |
| 2 | California | $61,549 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $59,130 |
| 4 | Texas | $57,908 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $57,639 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $57,390 |
| 7 | Vermont | $55,856 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $54,448 |
| 9 | New York | $53,794 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $53,758 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $53,503 |
| 12 | Utah | $53,388 |
| 13 | Maine | $53,303 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $53,065 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $52,526 |
| 16 | Indiana | $52,293 |
| 17 | Virginia | $52,216 |
| 18 | Washington | $52,158 |
| 19 | Ohio | $51,957 |
| 20 | Oregon | $51,851 |
| 21 | Maryland | $51,361 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $51,169 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $51,037 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $50,742 |
| 25 | Illinois | $50,482 |
| 26 | Missouri | $50,481 |
| 27 | Colorado | $50,152 |
| 28 | Arizona | $50,063 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $49,975 |
| 30 | Florida | $49,804 |
| 31 | Michigan | $49,753 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $49,554 |
| 33 | Idaho | $48,983 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $48,730 |
| 35 | Georgia | $48,479 |
| 36 | Iowa | $48,370 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $48,330 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $47,352 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $47,337 |
| 40 | Delaware | $46,769 |
| 41 | Kansas | $46,422 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $46,390 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $46,174 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,334 |
| 45 | Alaska | $45,226 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $42,218 |
| 47 | Alabama | $41,646 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $41,318 |
| 49 | Nevada | $41,003 |
| 50 | Montana | $39,664 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,462 |
Beginner Athletic Trainer Pay: Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest starting salaries for new athletic trainers. Each figure represents the 10th percentile of local BLS wage data — the typical pay range for professionals with little to no experience.
| # | City | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $76,411 |
| 2 | Sunnyvale, CA | $72,631 |
| 3 | Santa Clara, CA | $71,148 |
| 4 | Princeton, NJ | $66,504 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $66,252 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,760 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $65,708 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $65,666 |
| 9 | Beaumont, TX | $65,613 |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | $65,300 |
| 11 | Mission, TX | $65,176 |
| 12 | San Buenaventura, CA | $65,112 |
| 13 | Santa Cruz, CA | $65,059 |
| 14 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $64,667 |
| 15 | Napa, CA | $64,624 |
| 16 | Alhambra, CA | $64,531 |
| 17 | Glendale, CA | $64,370 |
| 18 | La Mirada, CA | $64,210 |
| 19 | South Gate, CA | $64,141 |
| 20 | Huntington Beach, CA | $64,122 |
Athletic Trainer Salary With No Experience: New Grad ATC Reality
The 10th percentile of BLS wage data is the standard proxy for entry-level ATC pay — it represents what the lowest-paid 10% of athletic trainers in a given metro area earn, predominantly new graduates and early-career ATCs in their first 12 months. Nationally, that sits at $52,859 ($25.41/hour) for 2026. New ATC offers vary enormously by setting (industrial vs hospital-affiliated high school vs college graduate assistant vs clinical).
What New Grad ATCs Actually Earn (Year 1)
- Industrial occupational ATC new grad (top tier — rapidly growing) — onsite at Toyota, Boeing, Caterpillar, Tesla, Amazon, GE, John Deere, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, John Deere. Major contractors: ATI Industrial Solutions, BMI Athletic Training Services, OneRehab, Premise Health. New grad industrial ATC at $55,000–$75,000 with structured M-F schedule.
- Hospital-affiliated high school AT contract (premium over district direct-hire) — HCA Healthcare ATC Network, Select Medical, Andrews Sports Medicine, Steadman. $50,000–$70,000 starting.
- Clinical sports-medicine ATC (orthopedic group) — physician-extender clinical ATCs at orthopedic group practices and surgical hospitals. Cluster at ortho-strong markets (Texas, Indiana OrthoIndy, Alabama Andrews Sports Medicine, New York HSS, Florida). $50,000–$70,000.
- D-I college graduate assistant ATC — $20,000–$35,000 plus tuition / housing during graduate assistantship. Strong path to Power 5 D-I career.
- High school district direct-hire AT — district W-2 staff. Pay typically anchored at state teacher salary schedule. $42,000–$58,000 starting.
- Pro sports / D-I college head AT positions — competitive entry path. Most pursue graduate assistantship or D-II/D-III experience first.
- Military / Special Operations Forces ATC — DoD and USSOCOM hire ATCs. Federal pay grade plus benefits.
- Performing arts AT — Broadway (NY), Las Vegas (Cirque du Soleil), major dance companies. Niche.
- VA federal ATC — VA medical center ATC with federal pension and PSLF.
CAATE Master's-Mandate Transition
- CAATE-accredited master's program — Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. As of 2022, CAATE moved entry-level to master's only. All new grad ATCs must hold master's degree.
- BOC ATC exam — Board of Certification exam. Required nationally for ATC credential.
- State licensure — nearly all U.S. states regulate athletic training through state licensure or registration on top of BOC ATC.
- BLS / CPR / AED certification — required for all clinical AT positions.
- Master's pipeline pressure — credential bar raised supply / demand dynamics; new grad ATC salary growth pressure.
Setting Selection: Industrial / Hospital / College GA / High School
- Industrial occupational ATC (top tier, fastest growing) — Toyota, Boeing, Caterpillar, Tesla, Amazon, GE, John Deere, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen. ATI Industrial Solutions, BMI, OneRehab, Premise Health.
- Hospital-affiliated high school AT contract — HCA Healthcare ATC Network, Select Medical, Andrews Sports Medicine, Steadman.
- Clinical sports-medicine ATC (orthopedic group) — Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Indiana OrthoIndy, Alabama Andrews Sports Medicine, NY HSS.
- D-I college graduate assistant ATC — $20,000–$35,000 plus tuition / housing. Path to Power 5 head AT.
- High school district direct-hire — district W-2 with strong state pension.
- Pro sports team AT — competitive entry; most require pro sports internship / GA experience.
- Military / SOF ATC — DoD, USSOCOM. Cluster at Texas, Virginia, NC, Florida, Washington, Colorado, Georgia military bases.
Sign-On Bonuses and Specialty Path
- Industrial ATC sign-on — ATI Industrial Solutions, BMI, OneRehab, Premise Health offer competitive starting plus structured benefits.
- Hospital AT contract sign-on — HCA Healthcare ATC Network, Select Medical offer competitive starting plus PSLF eligibility.
- Industrial AT M-F schedule — strong appeal for new ATCs vs evening / weekend high school sports schedule.
- NHSC eligibility — ATCs at HPSA-designated sites may qualify.
- State athletic training license — pursue during master's program for fastest licensure path.
Year-by-Year Progression to ATC National Median
- Year 0–1 (P10 baseline) — $52,859 national average. New BOC ATC building injury evaluation, taping / bracing, emergency response skills.
- Year 1–2 (P10 → P25) — 5–10% raise.
- Year 2–3 (P25 → mid-tier) — industrial AT specialty path, hospital AT contract advancement, or D-I college progression.
- Year 3–5 (approaching national median) — most ATCs reach state median with specialty focus.
- Year 5+ — D-I head AT (top tier), industrial AT director, hospital AT network coordinator, clinical sports-medicine senior.
2026 New Grad ATC Salary Outlook
Entry-level ATC salary has grown at a compound annual rate of 4.63% nationally over the past five years — driven by master's-degree entry transition (raising credential bar and supply), rapid industrial occupational AT expansion at major manufacturers, growing clinical-hospital and physician-extender AT employment, ongoing high school athletic-training mandate growth, and expanding military and performing arts AT segments. The BLS projects ATC employment growth at 14% through 2033 — much faster than average.
Entry-Level to Mid-Career: Athletic Trainer Salary Growth
Athletic Trainer salaries follow a predictable growth curve. Here's how pay typically progresses from entry-level to experienced:
How to Maximize Your Starting Athletic Trainer Salary
New grad ATCs who strategically position setting, specialty, and state market consistently land starting offers 25–45% above the national average. Here's how to maximize your first ATC salary:
1. Target Industrial Occupational AT (Rapidly Growing Premium)
- Industrial occupational ATC (top tier, fastest growing) — Toyota, Boeing, Caterpillar, Tesla, Amazon, GE, John Deere, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen. Major contractors: ATI Industrial Solutions, BMI Athletic Training Services, OneRehab, Premise Health.
- Industrial AT M-F schedule — strong work-life balance appeal vs evening / weekend college athletics.
- Manufacturing-dense states — Texas, Tennessee (Volkswagen, Nissan), Alabama (Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Toyota), South Carolina (BMW), Kentucky (Toyota), Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin.
- Hospital-affiliated high school AT contract — HCA Healthcare ATC Network, Select Medical, Andrews Sports Medicine.
- Clinical sports-medicine ATC at orthopedic groups — Texas, Indiana OrthoIndy, Alabama Andrews, NY HSS.
- Highest-paying new grad metro — San Jose, CA at $76,411.
2. Complete CAATE Master's + BOC ATC Exam
- CAATE-accredited master's program — required entry credential. 2-year master's degree.
- BOC ATC exam — pass before graduation if possible.
- State licensure — nearly all states regulate athletic training. Pursue during master's program.
- BLS / CPR / AED certification — required for all clinical AT positions.
- NSCA CSCS — strength & conditioning crossover for performance AT.
3. Choose Specialty Path Early
- Industrial occupational AT (top growth + work-life balance) — best new grad opportunity.
- Clinical sports-medicine (physician-extender) — orthopedic group practices.
- Hospital-affiliated high school AT contract — HCA Healthcare ATC Network premium over district direct-hire.
- D-I college graduate assistant (path to Power 5 head AT) — $20,000–$35,000 plus tuition / housing during 2-year GA. Strong path for college athletics career.
- Military / Special Operations Forces ATC — DoD, USSOCOM. Cluster at major military installations.
- Pro sports team ATC — competitive entry; most require pro sports internship / GA experience.
4. Target Manufacturing-Dense State for Industrial Path
- Manufacturing-dense states for industrial AT — Texas (oil & gas, heavy manufacturing), Tennessee (Volkswagen, Nissan), Alabama (Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Toyota), South Carolina (BMW), Kentucky (Toyota), Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin.
- Power 5 D-I athletics states (for college path) — Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, NC.
- Pro sports concentration states — California, NY, TX, FL, IL, PA, MA, GA, AZ, CO, WA.
- No-state-income-tax markets — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Nevada strong real take-home.
- VA federal ATC — federal pension and PSLF.
5. Negotiate Sign-On Bonuses and Plan Long-Term Path
- Industrial AT contractor sign-on — ATI Industrial Solutions, BMI, OneRehab, Premise Health offer competitive starting plus structured benefits.
- Hospital AT contract sign-on — HCA Healthcare ATC Network, Select Medical offer competitive starting plus PSLF.
- D-I college GA route — lower year 1 pay ($20,000–$35,000) but unlocks Power 5 head AT track at $90,000–$160,000+ by year 5–10.
- Long-term path planning — industrial AT pays mid-career college head AT-comparable with M-F schedule; D-I head AT pays top tier with high time commitment.
- NSCA CSCS crossover — strength & conditioning for performance AT or pro sports team support.
- OCS / SCS cross-training — APTA specialty cross-training for clinical AT pivot to PT track.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the entry level athletic trainer salary?
How much do new athletic trainers make with no experience?
What state pays entry-level athletic trainers the most?
How long does it take to reach the median athletic trainer salary?
Is athletic training school worth the investment?
Written by Jordan Lee, MS, ATC
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in athletic training. She specializes in injury prevention and rehabilitation. She has worked at several high schools and collegiate athletic programs.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MS, ATC, a licensed athletic trainer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 4.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.