Athletic Trainer Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA: $56,981 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time athletic trainer in Cedar Rapids, IA earns a median $56,981/year (≈ $27.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-9091). Once you factor in Cedar Rapids's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.0), that paycheck buys what $64,050 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.6% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the athletic trainer job market is significantly influenced by the interplay between industrial and traditional sports settings. With a projected median salary of $56,981 in 2026, athletic trainers in this city earn notably less than the national median salary of $65,415, reflecting a pay gap of approximately 12.89%. The salary range for athletic trainers in the area spans from $50,651 at the 10th percentile to $65,132 at the 90th percentile, as derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by professionals in Cedar Rapids as they navigate a competitive job market, where industrial athletes often receive higher compensation compared to their counterparts in secondary schools and collegiate athletics.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,651 | $24.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,853 | $25.90 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,981 | $27.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,132 | $31.32 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $65,132 | $31.32 |
Median Salary Position
12.89% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cedar Rapids
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the athletic trainer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $14,481 (2026 est.). At $56,981, the local median is 12.89% below the national median of $65,415.
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At 40 hours/week in Cedar Rapids: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cedar Rapids Athletic Trainer Pay Compares
Cedar Rapids median: $56,981/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cedar Rapids Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $59,109 | -3.60% less |
| National Average | $65,415 | -12.89% less |
Athletic Trainers in Cedar Rapids, IA earn a median of $56,981 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.89% lower than the national median of $65,415 and 3.60% below the Iowa state average of $59,109.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cedar Rapids has a cost of living 11.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.963 (below the national average of 100). A athletic trainer earning $56,981 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,050 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.41% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,070
2025 BLS Actual
$54,460
2026 Current Est.
$56,981
2019–2027 Growth
+16.7%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in Cedar Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,070 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,830 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,910 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,899 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,462 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,510 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,460 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,981 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,620 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area, the median athletic trainer salary grew 6.6% from $51,070 (2019) to $54,460 (2025). At a 4.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,620 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,550 (16.74%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cedar Rapids 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) | $50,651 – $53,853 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,853 – $56,981 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,981 – $65,132 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,132 – $65,132 |
AT, ATC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual athletic trainer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Athletic Trainer Job Market in Cedar Rapids
Despite these numbers, the local job market remains robust, with around 80 athletic trainers employed in the Cedar Rapids area. The cost of living index at 88.963 means that earnings stretch further in this community compared to more expensive urban centers, enhancing the purchasing power of athletic trainer salaries. While secondary schools and outpatient clinics provide steady employment opportunities, employees typically find higher salaries in settings such as industrial health (including companies like Toyota and FedEx) and the occasional high-level collegiate programs. The pay disparity is driven by factors like contractual differences between school-year roles and year-round positions, as well as the distinction between head and assistant athletic trainer roles. To maximize earning potential, professionals in Cedar Rapids should consider obtaining additional certifications, pursuing roles in higher-paying sectors, and staying attuned to the stringent needs for sports medicine expertise in a growing market.
More salary data for Cedar Rapids, IA:
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 $54,460 for athletic trainersin the Cedar Rapids 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, 5-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