Athletic Trainer Salary in Lexington, KY: $64,567 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time athletic trainer in Lexington, KY earns a median $64,567/year (≈ $31.04/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-9091). Once you factor in Lexington's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.9), that paycheck buys what $69,510 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.5% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lexington, Kentucky, the expected median athletic trainer salary in 2026 is $64,567, reflecting a competitive pay scale compared to the national median of $65,415. This market tends to favor industrial athletic trainers over those in traditional sports settings, often yielding a pay gap that skews higher for trainers in manufacturing and occupational health domains. Here, salaries range from $50,400 at the 10th percentile to $79,205 at the 90th percentile, as derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. This disparity underscores the evolving landscape of athletic training, especially following the transition to master's-level education as mandated by the NATA since 2022, promoting the professional growth of athletic trainers in Lexington's job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,665 | $25.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,567 | $31.04 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $66,377 | $31.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,205 | $38.07 |
Median Salary Position
1.3% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lexington
In Lexington, KY, the athletic trainer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,805 (2026 est.). At $64,567, the local median is 1.3% below the national median of $65,415.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lexington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lexington Athletic Trainer Pay Compares
Lexington median: $64,567/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lexington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $58,432 | +10.50% more |
| National Average | $65,415 | -1.30% less |
Athletic Trainers in Lexington, KY earn a median of $64,567 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.30% lower than the national median of $65,415 and 10.50% above the Kentucky state average of $58,432.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lexington has a cost of living 7.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lexington, KY has a cost-of-living index of 92.889 (below the national average of 100). A athletic trainer earning $64,567 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,510 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$47,220
2025 BLS Actual
$61,710
2026 Current Est.
$64,567
2019–2027 Growth
+43.1%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in Lexington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47,220 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,010 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,610 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $52,800 | Actual |
| 2024 | $53,440 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,710 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,567 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,557 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lexington metropolitan area, the median athletic trainer salary grew 30.7% from $47,220 (2019) to $61,710 (2025). At a 4.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,557 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,337 (43.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lexington 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) | $50,400 – $53,665 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,665 – $64,567 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,567 – $66,377 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $66,377 – $79,205 |
AT, ATC salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual athletic trainer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Athletic Trainer Job Market in Lexington
With 170 athletic trainers currently employed in Lexington, the local job market shows promise, although the cost of living index stands at 92.889, indicating a lower-than-average expense for residents. This economic environment allows for a better purchasing power for local athletic trainer salaries. Generally, those employed in colleges and universities, as well as in industrial roles at companies like Toyota and FedEx, tend to offer the most lucrative positions. The variation in pay can stem from multiple factors, including the setting of employment, whether the role is contract-based or year-round, and the level of responsibility held by the athletic trainer. Moreover, obtaining additional certifications like the CSCS can significantly enhance earning potential. To maximize pay in Lexington’s market, professionals might explore opportunities in industrial settings or pursue roles with stipends for extra duties, as these can provide a substantial boost to overall compensation.
More salary data for Lexington, KY:
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 $61,710 for athletic trainersin the Lexington 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