Athletic Trainer Jobs
No Health and Fitness jobs resource would be complete without a page about athletic trainers. In Canada, the term is Athletic Therapist as opposed to Athletic Trainer in the United States.
Athletic trainers help prevent and treat injuries for people of all ages. Their clients include everyone from professional athletes to industrial workers. Trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Athletic trainers are often one of the first heath care providers on the scene when injuries occur, and therefore must be able to recognize, evaluate, and assess injuries and provide immediate care when needed. They also are heavily involved in the rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuries.
In Focus: Athletic Trainer in Action
Athletic trainers often help prevent injuries by applying protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages, and braces. Injury prevention also often includes educating people on what they should do to avoid putting themselves at risk for injuries. It should be noted that athletic trainers are not fitness trainers or personal trainers, who are not health care workers, but rather train people to become physically fit.
In high schools, athletic trainers who also teach may work at least 60 to 70 hours a week. In NCAA Division 1 colleges and universities, athletic trainers generally work with one team; when that team’s sport is in season, working at least 50 to 60 hours a week is common. Athletic trainers in smaller colleges and universities often work with several teams and have teaching responsibilities much like we saw with Robert Dos Remedios. During the off-season, a 40-hour to 50-hour work week may be normal in most settings. Athletic trainers for professional sports teams generally work the most hours per week. During training camps, practices, and competitions, they may be required to work up to 12 hours a day.
*A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required for almost all athletic trainer jobs.
Compensation:
According to the National Athletic Trainers Association, the median salary for athletic trainers in 2005 was just under $36,000.
Top 10% of Athletic Trainers – $53,800+
Middle 50% of Athletic Trainers – $27,000 to $42,000
Bottom 10% of Athletic Trainers – Under $21,000
More Athletic Trainer Salary Information:
Resources:
National Athletic Trainers Association – http://www.nata.org/
College Athletic Trainers’ Society – http://www.collegeathletictrainer.org/
Also, The Journal of Athletic Training