Athletic Trainer Salary in St. Joseph, MO: $57,348 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time athletic trainer in St. Joseph, MO earns a median $57,348/year (≈ $27.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-9091). Once you factor in St. Joseph's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.4), that paycheck buys what $66,389 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.5% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, athletic trainers earn a median annual salary of $57,348, which is notably lower than the national median of $65,415 for 2026. The salary range for athletic trainers in this area extends from $49,741 at the 10th percentile to $68,805 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the varying opportunities available based on factors such as the employment setting. Data derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys indicates that while the athletic trainer salary in St. Joseph is competitive, it does signify the influence of predominant local employment sectors. The significant pay gap can be attributed to the differences between industrial, occupational health, and traditional sports settings, with the former often compensating trainers more generously.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,741 | $23.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,741 | $23.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,348 | $27.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,561 | $31.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $68,805 | $33.08 |
Median Salary Position
12.33% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Joseph
In St. Joseph, MO, the athletic trainer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,064 (2026 est.). At $57,348, the local median is 12.33% below the national median of $65,415.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Joseph: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Joseph Athletic Trainer Pay Compares
St. Joseph median: $57,348/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Joseph Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $62,675 | -8.50% less |
| National Average | $65,415 | -12.33% less |
Athletic Trainers in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $57,348 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.33% lower than the national median of $65,415 and 8.50% below the Missouri state average of $62,675.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Joseph has a cost of living 13.62% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Joseph, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.382 (below the national average of 100). A athletic trainer earning $57,348 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $66,389 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.77% 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
$42,466
2025 BLS Actual
$54,810
2026 Current Est.
$57,348
2019–2027 Growth
+41.3%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,466 | Actual |
| 2020 | $43,711 | Actual |
| 2021 | $42,449 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,200 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,786 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,726 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,810 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,348 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $60,003 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, the median athletic trainer salary grew 29.1% from $42,466 (2019) to $54,810 (2025). At a 4.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,003 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,537 (41.30%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph 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) | $49,741 – $49,741 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,741 – $57,348 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,348 – $65,561 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,561 – $68,805 |
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. Joseph
As of now, about 30 athletic trainers are employed in St. Joseph, a market that presents both unique challenges and opportunities. The cost-of-living index in the area stands at 86.382, indicating that the purchasing power of an athletic trainer in St. Joseph is relatively favorable compared to many other regions. In terms of employers, positions in industrial or occupational health settings—such as those at Toyota, Boeing, or FedEx—typically offer the highest salaries. The disparity in pay often hinges on the employment environment: professionals in high school sports tend to earn less than those working in collegiate or professional sports, partly due to the seasonal nature of school contracts versus year-round positions in other settings. To enhance their earning potential, athletic trainers in St. Joseph should consider roles with industrial organizations, pursue advanced certifications like CSCS or OCS-AT, and explore opportunities for stipends associated with additional responsibilities like after-hours events.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do athletic trainers make in St. Joseph, MO in 2026?
Is St. Joseph, MO a good place to work as a athletic trainer?
Can athletic trainers make $100K in St. Joseph?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted athletic trainer salary in St. Joseph?
How much does a athletic trainer make per hour in St. Joseph?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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 $54,810 for athletic trainersin the St. Joseph 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, 2-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