Athletic Trainer Salary in St. Charles, IL: $62,611 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time athletic trainer in St. Charles, IL earns a median $62,611/year (≈ $30.10/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-9091). Once you factor in St. Charles's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $64,481 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In St. Charles, IL, the projected median annual salary for athletic trainers in 2026 is $62,611, which places them slightly below the national median of $65,415. This local estimate reflects a salary range from $49,068 at the 10th percentile to $83,584 at the 90th percentile, showcasing a significant disparity within the field. Based on 2025 BLS data, these figures have been projected to 2026 and take into account regional price adjustments impacting the cost of living. While athletic trainers can be found working in schools, colleges, and universities, those in industrial settings may earn substantially more due to the demand for year-round, certified professionals. Despite this noted gap in earnings, St. Charles remains a viable market for athletic trainers, largely shaped by the local job environment and employer needs.
About the St. Charles Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,068 | $23.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,084 | $26.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,611 | $30.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72,463 | $34.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,584 | $40.19 |
Median Salary Position
4.29% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Charles
In St. Charles, IL, the athletic trainer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,516 (2026 est.). At $62,611, the local median is 4.29% below the national median of $65,415.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Charles: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Charles Athletic Trainer Pay Compares
St. Charles median: $62,611/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Charles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $63,500 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $65,415 | -4.29% less |
Athletic Trainers in St. Charles, IL earn a median of $62,611 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.29% lower than the national median of $65,415 and 1.40% below the Illinois state average of $63,500.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Charles has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Charles, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A athletic trainer earning $62,611 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,481 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$46,364
2025 BLS Actual
$59,840
2026 Current Est.
$62,611
2019–2027 Growth
+41.3%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in St. Charles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,364 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,723 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,344 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,532 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,447 | Actual |
| 2024 | $55,513 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,840 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,611 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,509 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Charles metropolitan area, the median athletic trainer salary grew 29.1% from $46,364 (2019) to $59,840 (2025). At a 4.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,509 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,145 (41.29%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Charles 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) | $49,068 – $55,084 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,084 – $62,611 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,611 – $72,463 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $72,463 – $83,584 |
AT, ATC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual athletic trainer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Athletic Trainer Job Market in St. Charles
Seven athletic trainers are currently employed in St. Charles, indicating a niche but stable market for the profession. The local cost of living index stands at 97.1, suggesting that while salaries are competitive, affordability remains favorable compared to national averages. In St. Charles, high school athletic trainers tend to earn less than their counterparts in collegiate or industrial settings, which often provide higher compensation and year-round contracts. The variance in pay can be driven by many factors, including specific roles (head trainer vs. assistant), additional stipends for evening or weekend events, and enhanced certifications such as CSCS or OCS-AT, which add value to practitioners in the field. Aspiring athletic trainers can optimize their earning potential by pursuing opportunities in high-paying industrial health settings or by furthering their education and credentials, ultimately leading to career advancement in a city where athletic trainer pay continues to grow.
More salary data for St. Charles, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do athletic trainers make in St. Charles, IL in 2026?
Is St. Charles, IL a good place to work as a athletic trainer?
Can athletic trainers make $100K in St. Charles?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted athletic trainer salary in St. Charles?
How much does a athletic trainer make per hour in St. Charles?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 $59,840 for athletic trainersin the St. Charles 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
Salary data for St. Charles is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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