I recently posted an article on the A4IA Facebook page titled, A year after tragedy, Hillsborough facing shortage of trainers for high schools” and it was one of A4IA's most popular posts in the last year.  Facebook followers felt the need to weigh in.  The responses highlighted two themes:

1.  There are plenty of athletic trainers out there willing to work, but a livable wage that accounts for athletic trainer expertise and adaptability is necessary.
2. Schools (along with other league and sports program administrators) need to take athlete safety seriously and be willing to pay for the expertise athletic trainers provide.

Reflecting on these themes I started to wonder, what is the current financial value of an athletic trainer?  The sentiment of feeling undervalued is one I have been hearing since I was an athletic training student back in the late 1990s and I wanted to understand why it persists some 20+ years later.  I know that athletic trainer salaries have continued to increase over the years, but is it keeping up with other related professions? The increasing number of required professional competencies? The acquisition of advanced degrees?

To try to answer these questions I looked at some of the employment data available for athletic trainers and similar professions.  The most recent data from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 2018 Salary Survey demonstrates a general increasing salary trend since the survey was started in 2008 and lists the following average salaries:

• Average:  $57,203
• Bachelor’s: $52,010
• Master’s:  $56,347
• Doctorate: $79,418

The data are also broken down based on gender, years of experience and employment setting.  Review the 2018 NATA survey summary to learn more about athletic trainer salaries across a range of variables. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a range of data related to all occupations across the US economy via the Occupational Outlook Handbook.  The data provided allows for some basic salary comparisons across occupations/jobs.  According to the latest BLS athletic training profession overview (2019), athletic training is a growing profession:

• Median Pay:  $48,440
• Highest 10% Pay more than:  $73,470
• Lowest 10% Pay less than:  $31,300
• Typical Entry-Level Education:  Bachelor’s Degree*
• Number of Jobs (2018):  31,100
• Job Outlook 2018 – 28:  19% (much faster than average)

*With recent change from Bachelor's to Master's degree programs this will change in the next year or so.

If you're interested in drilling down on the data for your state or area check out the State and Area graphs available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website. The focus of this article is to use the national data to allow for comparison across occupations/jobs without trying to account for other variables such as years of experience, location of job, and gender.

Reviewing the 2018 NATA data and the 2019 BLS data there is a $8,763 difference in average salary, with the 2018 NATA Salary Survey reflecting a higher average salary.  This difference could be in part a result of different survey populations but taken together with the BLS data provides a broader picture of the athletic trainer salary picture.

The list below is a look at the median salary of athletic trainers relative to the median salary of “similar” occupations and those they most frequently collaborate with.  Data are BLS information unless otherwise stated.  Positions are listed in order of lowest to highest median salary:

 Key Highlights:

• Salary spread is $41,170 for athletic trainers according to the data published by the BLS.
• Athletic trainers being compensated in the lowest 10% are the lowest paid of all the professions listed. 
• The median salary for respiratory therapists (RT) is +$12,890 as compared to athletic trainers and the typical degree level for RTs is an Associate's degree.
• Athletic trainers with a Master's degree earn significantly less ($28,000 and up) than other professions with a Master's degree as the typical degree.
• Athletic trainers who have earned a doctorate, the same degree level as physical therapists earn significantly less (-$10,000) than physical therapists.
• Athletic trainers earn approximately $10,000 less than K – 12 teachers.
• An average athletic trainer earns at least $30,000 less that college professors, physical therapists, college administrators (this includes athletic directors), and K-12 principals. 
• Division 1 athletics (NATA 2018), athletic trainers (median $57,656) make over $37,000 less than postsecondary administrators.

At the end of the day while athletic trainers’ salaries have steadily increased over the last 10+ years, the average salary remains lower for athletic trainers as compared to other medical professionals across the board.  Considering 70% of athletic trainers have a master’s degree, deemed an advanced degree until recently, the salary gap remains problematic.

The salary gap becomes indescribable when you consider the number of athletic trainers who are employed at the Division I level and consider the amount of money top tier athletic departments are spending to compensate their athletic director, head football coach and head men’s basketball coach.  USA Today provides salaries for Division I football (2019), men’s basketball (2020) head coaches, and athletic directors (2018). According to those who reported data:

• Highest paid AD (2018):  $3.05 million
• Highest paid FB Coach (2019):  $9.255 million
• Highest paid MBB Coach (2020):  $8 million
• Lowest paid AD: $195,576
• Lowest paid FB Coach: $360,000
• Lowest paid MBB Coach:  $275,000          

 All of this is to say, I understand why athletic trainers are still working so hard to demonstrate their value and fight for fair compensation.  I also understand their need to clarify when an article declares a shortage of athletic trainers. In reality lack of athletic trainers is more about what athletic administrators and organizations value and less about an inability to provide fair compensation.  At the end of the day, organizations pay for what they value.  Athletic trainers are critical to athlete safety, yet in many cases are undervalued.  If that wasn’t clear before how important athletic trainers are, the COVID-19 pandemic should help bring the focus back where it belongs.  Athletic trainers are quickly educating themselves on infection prevention and control protocols and remain on the front lines risking their health to ensure that athletes can return to athletics safely across the country.  Their efforts toward safety are invaluable, perhaps it’s time their compensation reflects this.  It’s time to put more money into safety and less money into winning.

References:  All references are hyperlinked throughout the article.

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
2. National Athletic Trainers' Association 2018 Salary Survey Summary
3. USA Today's Salary Reports:  Athletic Directors; Head Football Coaches; Head Men's Basketball Coaches

Disclaimer: The content contained in this blog is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, athletic trainer, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

Image Credit: Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash