How Much Do NFL Athletic Trainers Make? A Deep Dive into Salaries and Career Paths
For those who blend a passion for sports with a deep knowledge of medical science, a career as an athletic trainer in the National Football League (NFL) represents the absolute pinnacle of the profession. It's a high-stakes, high-pressure environment where the health and performance of multi-million dollar athletes are in your hands. But with great responsibility comes significant reward.
While entry into this elite circle is fiercely competitive, the potential earnings for an NFL athletic trainer are substantially higher than the national average for the profession, with experienced head athletic trainers commanding six-figure salaries. This guide will break down the salary you can expect, the factors that influence it, and the path to get there.
What Does an NFL Athletic Trainer Do?
The role of an NFL athletic trainer extends far beyond taping ankles on the sidelines. These highly-skilled healthcare professionals are integral to a team's success. Their daily responsibilities are demanding and diverse, including:
- Injury Prevention: Designing and implementing programs to reduce the risk of injury, including conditioning exercises, flexibility routines, and proper equipment fitting.
- Emergency Care: Acting as first responders on the field, assessing and providing immediate care for acute injuries during practices and games.
- Clinical Diagnosis and Rehabilitation: Evaluating the nature and extent of injuries, and creating comprehensive rehabilitation plans to return players to peak condition safely and efficiently.
- Collaboration: Working closely with team physicians, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, and the coaching staff to manage player health.
- Administration: Meticulously documenting injuries, treatments, and player progress in compliance with league and medical standards.
The job requires long hours, extensive travel, and the ability to make critical decisions under immense pressure.
Average NFL Athletic Trainer Salary
Pinpointing an exact salary for an NFL athletic trainer can be challenging as teams do not typically publicize this data. However, by analyzing data from professional organizations and reputable salary aggregators, we can establish a clear picture.
First, it's important to have a baseline. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual wage for athletic trainers across all industries was $57,930 as of May 2023.
However, working in the NFL places a professional in the highest echelon of the field, and compensation reflects this.
- Assistant NFL Athletic Trainer: An assistant athletic trainer in the NFL, who may have several years of high-level collegiate or professional experience, can typically expect to earn between $75,000 and $100,000+ per year.
- Head NFL Athletic Trainer: The Head Athletic Trainer, or Director of Sports Medicine, holds a significant leadership role. According to data reported by Salary.com, head athletic trainers in professional sports can earn anywhere from $99,101 to $155,798, with the top tier in the NFL likely earning well above this range. Some senior head athletic trainers for top-tier franchises are reported to earn salaries exceeding $200,000, and in some cases, can approach figures closer to $500,000 depending on their contract, experience, and responsibilities.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your earning potential as an NFL athletic trainer is not a single number but a range influenced by several critical factors.
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Role Within the Team (Company Type)
This is the most significant factor. An NFL team's athletic training staff is hierarchical. The Head Athletic Trainer / Director of Sports Medicine has the most responsibility, managing the entire department, budget, and staff, and therefore has the highest earning potential. Assistant Athletic Trainers work under the head trainer and have more focused, hands-on roles with the players. Their salaries are lower but still represent the top percentile for the profession globally. Some teams may also employ Rehabilitation Coordinators or fellows, which are often stepping-stone positions.
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Years of Experience
There is no direct entry-level path into the NFL. Every athletic trainer on an NFL sideline has a long and proven track record. The journey typically involves:
1. Internships (collegiate or professional)
2. Graduate assistant positions at major NCAA Division I universities
3. Full-time assistant or head trainer roles at the collegiate level (especially in Power Five conferences)
4. Positions in other professional leagues (XFL, CFL) or as an assistant in the NFL.
A professional with 15-20 years of experience, including a decade in the NFL, will command a significantly higher salary than someone in their first few years with a team.
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Level of Education
A master's degree is the standard educational requirement to become a certified athletic trainer and is a prerequisite for consideration by an NFL team. However, to gain a competitive edge for top positions, many professionals pursue a Doctorate of Athletic Training (DAT). This advanced degree demonstrates a higher level of clinical expertise and research knowledge, which can lead to leadership roles and a higher salary.
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Area of Specialization
Holding advanced certifications can make a candidate more valuable and boost earning potential. Combining the mandatory Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC) with other credentials is a powerful strategy. Highly sought-after specializations include:
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS): This bridges the gap between rehabilitation and performance.
- Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES): Expertise in fixing movement dysfunctions to prevent injury.
- Manual Therapy Certifications: Advanced hands-on skills like Active Release Techniques (ART) or Graston Technique.
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Geographic Location
In many professions, location impacts salary due to cost of living. In the NFL, this factor is less about the city and more about the franchise. While there are only 32 NFL teams, each operates as a multi-billion dollar entity. A team's budget, philosophy on player care, and willingness to invest in its medical staff can influence salary ranges. However, all 32 positions are considered elite, and compensation across the league is competitive at the highest level.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for athletic trainers, in general, is expected to grow by 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by an increased awareness of sports-related injuries at all levels.
However, it is crucial to temper this optimism with realism for the NFL. With only 32 teams and a handful of positions per team, the number of available jobs is extremely limited. Turnover is low, as these are considered destination careers. The competition for a single opening is immense and includes the best and most experienced professionals from across the country.
Conclusion
A career as an NFL athletic trainer is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires an unwavering dedication to education, continuous professional development, and years of gaining hands-on experience in high-pressure environments.
For those who reach this elite level, the financial rewards are significant, with salaries starting around $75,000 for assistant roles and soaring well into the six figures for experienced head athletic trainers. While the path is challenging and the competition fierce, the opportunity to work at the highest level of sport—protecting and enabling the world's best athletes—is a career that is, for the right candidate, beyond price.
Sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Athletic Trainers (Data from May 2023).
- Salary.com, Head Athletic Trainer - Professional Sports Salaries.
- Glassdoor & Payscale salary data aggregates for related professional sports roles.