We’re here to pump you up with the 25 best states for athletic trainers to move.
I look at bodybuilders and wonder–how are they doing that? Sure, I mean I always marveled at feats of strength and agility. Now that I have gone from running in high school and at a DI college, to attempting to learn to swim and weight training–I am once again a fish out of water. Or a dog in water? Something that is very bad at swimming in an Olympic-sized pool. But luckily I know people who I can trust to show me the ropes–or the strokes and the lifts, to keep my form in check and give me good tips.
For those who do not know athletic experts, there are trainers. A personal trainer is usually someone who works at a gym. They offer private lessons on exercises and motivation. Some of them are great and some are extremely stupid and don’t know what they are talking about. The onus is on you to find someone with the proper credentials and training. Don’t think that any idiot who works for a gym is knowledgeable. I have seen firsthand someone show me how a trainer showed them to do a squat–I’m surprised they didn’t break their spine.

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However, many ATHLETIC trainers also work for sports teams–whether they be on the child, high school, college, or pro level. This differs from trainers in gyms. They usually have certifications in physical therapy or other useful medical training related to sports injury. They help athletes avoid and recover from injuries sustained in their playing of sports.
Being an athlete trainer, is something entirely different, and way harder than you can imagine. You can’t mix an athlete trainer with “fitness” trainers or “professional” trainers. Athlete trainers must be also healthcare workers, they need to specialize in prevention, assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment of muscle, illnesses and bone injuries. Athletic trainers must be able to recognize injury and to react on the best and fastest way possible. Despite that, they must constantly motivate and push the students to their limits in order to free themselves from their fears and become the best.
If your hometown suddenly became too small for you and your athletic training dreams, you can always choose one of these 25 best states for athletic trainers. As we discussed pro sports teams use trainers, so cities with big football, basketball and baseball teams would be key. However, colleges and even high schools also staff trainers. If you’re interested in other fields you should also check out 25 Best States for Architects.
In order to create the list, we took the annual average salary from Bureau Of Labor Statistics for athletic trainers in The United States and detect those that offer the biggest salary. We sorted the list by the annual salary in each state.
25. West Virginia
Maybe West Virginia wasn’t even on your mind when you thought about the 25 best states for athletic trainers, but you should definitely consider it. In West Virginia, you can live in great living conditions and work with a lot of positive people. Also, the approximate annual salary is $45,000.
24. Ohio
Ohio has one of the best universities and colleges for athletics. Here you can pursue your career as an athletic trainer in one of these colleges and you can inspire a lot of young people. The average annual salary in Ohio is $45,000.
23. Kentucky
Kentucky has two of the best universities for athletics. As an athletics trainer, you should definitely consider Kentucky because here you can work in great conditions, and the salary is on a satisfactory level. In Kentucky, the approximate annual salary for athletic trainers is $45,000.
22. Missouri
Missouri should definitely be the state to consider if you want to move in one of these 25 best states for athletic trainers. They are offering great living, as well as working conditions and with the approximate annual salary of $45,000, you shouldn’t think twice.
21. Florida
Florida has a few universities which people ranked them as the best for athletic trainers. In Florida, you can enjoy working with positive faces every day and you can live your life to the fullest. The approximate annual salary of $45,000 comes as one more reason to move to Florida.

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20. Connecticut
Connecticut also has some of the finest universities for athletics, particularly basketball at UCONN–both men and women. This means you can find yourself teaching and training these young adults easily. With the approximate annual salary of $45,000, you shouldn’t think twice before you pack your bag and more to Connecticut.

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19. Minnesota
Maybe Minnesota wasn’t on your mind when you thought about where to move, but with an approximate annual salary of $45, 000, you should definitely consider moving here. Despite great salary, in Minnesota, you can also live and work in great conditions.

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18. New Hampshire
If you don’t think that the approximate annual paycheck of $46,000 is not enough reason to move to New Hampshire, you should also consider the opportunities this state is offering as well as great living conditions and work environment.
17. Georgia
As an athletic trainer, you should know that Georgia is one of the best options for you–you could be training the Atlanta Falcons who made it to this year’s Superbowl. It has great living conditions, working environment and it also pays very well. With a paycheck of $46,000, you can live your life to the highest standards.
16. Michigan
Michigan has not only one, but two of the finest universities for athletics, U of Michigan and Michigan State, therefore, you can pursue your career as a professional trainer in one of these universities while you inspire countless young adults. With an approximate annual paycheck of $46,000, you should definitely consider moving to Michigan.
15. Illinois
Illinois is one of the most beautiful states especially the gorgeous architecture in the city of Chicago. It offers one the best working conditions as well as the living. Here you can earn more than $47,000 each year and you can enjoy the countless opportunities Illinois is offering.
14. Nebraska
Maybe you didn’t even think about Nebraska when you thought about 25 best states for athletic trainers, but you should seriously consider moving here–go Cornhuskers. Nebraska is offering an approximate annual paycheck of $47,000 which is more than enough to move here, not to mention the great living conditions.
13. Oregon
Oregon is also one of the most beautiful states. Here you can continue your career as an athletic trainer while you work with the most positive people in the world. In Oregon, the approximate annual salary for an athletic trainer is $47,000.
12. Washington
If you wondered if you can work as an athletic trainer in Washington, the answer is definitely. Not only you can work your dream job, live your life in great living conditions but you can also earn around $47,000 each year.

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11. Virginia
Virginia also has great universities for athletics, meaning as an athletic trainer you can work with these young minds and inspire them to pursue their dreams. With an average annual salary of $47,000, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, is it?
10. California
Who doesn’t want to live and work in California? California is the most beautiful state, and it is offering the best living as well as working conditions in one of the finest universities. Also, you can earn more than $49,000 every year which makes California the perfect place for you to move as an athletic trainer. Shake it, Cali.
9. New York
When you thought about the 25 best states for athletic trainers, it was just a matter of time when New York was gonna pop up. Well, with an approximate annual salary of $49,000, it makes the perfect place for you to move, live and work. Start packing because New York also has the finest universities for athletics.
8. Wisconsin
As an athletic trainer, you should also consider moving to Wisconsin, next onour list of best states for athletic trainers. Here you can work your dream job, earn more than $49,000 every year and you can live your life in great conditions. What’s there not to love about Wisconsin?
7. Colorado
We are continuing our list of best states for athletic trainers with Colorado that is also one of the most beautiful states. The people living in Colorado are always positive which will make your life perfect if you move here. In Colorado you can work with the most positive people, and also earn more than $50,000 every year. Start packing and start living your dream.
6. Utah
If you wondered if Utah will be good for you as an athletic trainer, the answer is yes. As a matter of fact, it is perfect and you should definitely consider moving here. Utah has the greatest living conditions and with an approximate annual salary of $51,000, you can enjoy your dream job.
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts is also one of the most beautiful states on the list of best states for athletic trainers. It is offering great living as well as working conditions. Here you can earn more than $52,000 while you work with the most positive people in the world.
4. Texas
Texas has the finest universities for athletics meaning as an athletic trainer, you can find yourself inspiring and working with Texas’ young minds in no time. In Texas, the living conditions are great as well as the paycheck of $52,000.
3. New Jersey
New Jersey is one of your best options to move into on our list of best states for athletic trainers. Here you can live and work in a great environment where people are friendly and positive. The approximate annual salary as an athletic trainer in New Jersey is $60,000 which is pretty good reason to move here.
2. Nevada
The second place on our list of best states for athletic trainers goes to Nevada that is one of the most beautiful states. Despite an approximate annual paycheck of $62,000, in Nevada, you can pursue your dream job working with positive people. Also, you can live your life in great living conditions and work in a great environment.
1. District Of Columbia
As an athletic trainer, you should seriously consider moving into District Of Columbia. They offer the highest salary of approximately $63,000. Also, there are a lot of job positions waiting for you. Despite high salary, you can also enjoy working in a great environment and live your life to the fullest in great living conditions.
We hope we managed to show you which are the 25 best states for athletic trainers. Keep in mind that the salaries are approximate for the whole year, and they can vary depending on the state and the job position.