💡 Why it matters: As more people play organised sport, teams need experts who can prevent injuries and manage them fast. A safe return to sport matters at every level.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs for athletic trainers are projected to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦800k – ₦2M
- Mid-career
- ₦2M – ₦5M
- Senior
- ₦5M – ₦12M
≈ ₦167k – ₦417k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Indicative mid-career range (our estimate, not yet checked against an official source). Incusim estimate
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank occupation: Athletic therapist. Hourly wage low/high x 2,080 hours; Job Bank's median was not captured. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Tape, brace and treat sprains and strains
- Give first aid at games and training
- Design exercises to prevent injuries
- Guide athletes through rehabilitation
- Work with doctors and coaches on return-to-play decisions
⚡ Skills you'll need
- First aid
- Anatomy knowledge
- Staying calm
- Communication
- Hands-on care
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Sports science, physiotherapy or health science degree plus first aid certificates
- Gain experience with school, club or state teams
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- First aid and pitchside emergency care courses
- Gain experience with school, club or university teams
🇺🇸 United States
- Volunteer or work with school and club teams as a student trainer
- Start with a bachelor's in kinesiology or exercise science, then apply to the master's program
🇨🇦 Canada
- Volunteer with school, club or university teams
- Kinesiology degree first, then athletic therapy training
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Biology and Physical Education at school
- 2Take an accredited degree in athletic training or sports therapy
- 3Gain experience with school or club teams
- 4Pass the required exam and get your licence or registration
- 5Work with school, college, club or professional teams
⏰ A day in the life
You tape an ankle before training and watch the players warm up. When a player goes down during the match, you rush on, check them and decide whether they can continue. After the game you guide a recovering player through rehab exercises.