Athletic Trainer Salary in Riverside, CA: $83,652 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time athletic trainer in Riverside, CA earns a median $83,652/year (≈ $40.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-9091). Once you factor in Riverside's price level (6% above national, BEA RPP 106.4), that paycheck buys what $78,589 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.1% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the athletic trainer salary in Riverside, CA, is projected to reach a median of $83,652, significantly surpassing the national median of $65,415 by nearly 28%. The salary range for athletic trainers in the area varies from $65,708 at the 10th percentile to $94,418 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diversity of roles and employment settings available. This data, derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the economic opportunities in Riverside’s job market, where the trade-off between school-year contracts and year-round positions, such as those in industrial settings, contributes notably to salary discrepancies. With a projected growth rate of 4.63% over the next five years, the career prospects for athletic trainers in Riverside appear promising, offering viable paths for aspiring professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,708 | $31.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,864 | $38.40 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,652 | $40.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,384 | $43.93 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $94,418 | $45.39 |
Median Salary Position
27.88% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Riverside
In Riverside, CA, the athletic trainer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,710 (2026 est.). At $83,652, the local median is 27.88% above the national median of $65,415.
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At 40 hours/week in Riverside: You'd be above the median
How Riverside Athletic Trainer Pay Compares
Riverside median: $83,652/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Riverside Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $81,136 | +3.10% more |
| National Average | $65,415 | +27.88% more |
Athletic Trainers in Riverside, CA earn a median of $83,652 per year (2026 est.), which is 27.88% higher than the national median of $65,415 and 3.10% above the California state average of $81,136.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Riverside has a cost of living 6.44% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Riverside, CA has a cost-of-living index of 106.442 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $83,652 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $78,589 — a 6.05% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,670
2025 BLS Actual
$79,950
2026 Current Est.
$83,652
2019–2027 Growth
+51.8%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in Riverside (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,670 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,670 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,510 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,270 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,950 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,652 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,525 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Riverside metropolitan area, the median athletic trainer salary grew 38.6% from $57,670 (2019) to $79,950 (2025). At a 4.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,525 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,855 (51.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Riverside metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $65,708 – $79,864 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,864 – $83,652 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,652 – $91,384 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,384 – $94,418 |
AT, ATC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual athletic trainer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Athletic Trainer Job Market in Riverside
The local job market for athletic trainers is robust, with approximately 240 professionals employed in Riverside. However, the cost of living index for the area stands slightly above the national average at 106.442, which influences the purchasing power of athletic trainer pay in Riverside CA. Employers across various sectors provide different compensation scales; while secondary schools typically offer lower salaries, institutions such as colleges, universities, and industrial organizations like Toyota and Boeing tend to pay more, especially for full-time roles that often come with additional stipends for evening or weekend events. The wide salary range is driven by factors including the setting of employment, whether in professional sports or educational institutions, and the trainer's specific role, be it head athletic trainer or assistant. To maximize pay, individuals entering this field should consider gaining advanced certifications, such as CSCS or OCS-AT, as well as seeking employment in higher-paying industries that offer year-round contracts.
More salary data for Riverside, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $79,950 for athletic trainersin the Riverside metropolitan area. A 4.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for athletic trainers (SOC 29-9091).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MS, ATC, a licensed athletic trainer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov