What Do Assistant Athletic Trainers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for assistant athletic trainers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what assistant athletic trainers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Assistant Athletic Trainers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about assistant athletic trainers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Assistant Athletic Trainers evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.
Popular Job Titles For Assistant Athletic Trainers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Athletic Trainers
- Certified Athletic Trainers
- Assistant Athletic Trainers
- Outreach Athletic Trainers
- Head Athletic Trainers
- Clinical Athletic Trainers
- On-Site Industrial Athletic Trainers
- Licensed Athletic Trainers
- Injury Prevention Specialists
- Athletic Trainers Physician Extender
- Critical Care Transport Registered Nurses
- Athletic Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for assistant athletic trainers can be found.
Best Industries for Assistant Athletic Trainers
Assistant Athletic Trainers Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Physicians: 15.9%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 15%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 14.2%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 14.1%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 11.8%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 11.7%
- Other: 17.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of assistant athletic trainers can be found working in the Offices of Physicians sector. In 2023, about 15.9% of all jobs for assistant athletic trainers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (15%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (14.2%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (14.1%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (11.8%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (11.7%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Assistant Athletic Trainers
Become an important part of the patient care experience and put yourself at the forefront of health and wellness with a broad-based healthcare education that prepares you for an entry-level role at a hospital, physician’s office, healthcare agency, and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
The B.S. Exercise Science major provides a clear path to a rewarding career helping individuals realize their health and fitness goals. You’ll learn to evaluate fitness levels, design results-oriented exercise programs and apply coaching methodologies to help your clients reach their full potential.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Improve quality of life by removing barriers to healthcare, promoting wellness and reducing health disparities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
The B.S. in Sport Management major provides big-league career opportunities for sports-minded individuals with a head for business. You’ll learn how essential business concepts translate to the sports industry and open the door to a variety of roles.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Prepare for a meaningful career in athletic development, tactical fitness training and human performance optimization. Franklin’s 16-month online master’s degree in exercise science with a specialization in strength and conditioning equips you to help others improve their health and fitness.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for Assistant Athletic Trainers
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do Assistant Athletic Trainers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what assistant athletic trainers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work assistant athletic trainers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that assistant athletic trainers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for assistant athletic trainers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Assistant Athletic Trainers
Based on 17,330 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Assistant Athletic Trainers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Training | 14,304 | 83% |
| Rehabilitation | 9,014 | 52% |
| Sports Medicine | 6,706 | 39% |
| Injury Prevention | 3,862 | 22% |
| Sports Injuries | 3,729 | 22% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Assistant Athletic Trainers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,151 | 41% |
| Management | 4,008 | 23% |
| First Aid | 3,228 | 19% |
| Coaching | 2,982 | 17% |
| Operations | 2,297 | 13% |
Based on 17,330 job postings related to assistant athletic trainers, athletic training was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 83% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for rehabilitation, sports medicine, injury prevention, sports injuries and orthopedics were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for assistant athletic trainers, followed by management, first aid, coaching, operations and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Training | 14,304 | 83% |
| Rehabilitation | 9,014 | 52% |
| Sports Medicine | 6,706 | 39% |
| Injury Prevention | 3,862 | 22% |
| Sports Injuries | 3,729 | 22% |
| Orthopedics | 2,792 | 16% |
| Physical Therapy | 2,463 | 14% |
| Medical Records | 2,435 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 2,273 | 13% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 2,222 | 13% |
| Emergency Medicine | 2,025 | 12% |
| Strength Training And Conditioning | 1,343 | 8% |
| Triage | 1,214 | 7% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 1,097 | 6% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 1,083 | 6% |
| Urgent Care | 1,081 | 6% |
| Vital Signs | 1,062 | 6% |
| Splinting | 1,050 | 6% |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | 1,020 | 6% |
| Kinesiology | 1,016 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,151 | 41% |
| Management | 4,008 | 23% |
| First Aid | 3,228 | 19% |
| Coaching | 2,982 | 17% |
| Operations | 2,297 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,208 | 13% |
| Scheduling | 1,997 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 1,941 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 1,875 | 11% |
| Lifting Ability | 1,511 | 9% |
| Leadership | 1,419 | 8% |
| Writing | 1,387 | 8% |
| Administrative Functions | 1,293 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,236 | 7% |
| Planning | 1,227 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,201 | 7% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,122 | 6% |
| Fine Motor Skills | 1,057 | 6% |
| Time Management | 1,007 | 6% |
| Teaching | 979 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Assistant Athletic Trainers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | 28,168 | 50.8% |
| Certified Athletic Trainers | 13,342 | 24.1% |
| Assistant Athletic Trainers | 4,407 | 7.9% |
| Outreach Athletic Trainers | 2,612 | 4.7% |
| Head Athletic Trainers | 1,026 | 1.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was athletic trainers, with 7,888 unique job postings. Certified athletic trainers were second, with 1,763 postings, followed by assistant athletic trainers, outreach athletic trainers and head athletic trainers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to assistant athletic trainers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | 28,168 | 50.8% |
| Certified Athletic Trainers | 13,342 | 24.1% |
| Assistant Athletic Trainers | 4,407 | 7.9% |
| Outreach Athletic Trainers | 2,612 | 4.7% |
| Head Athletic Trainers | 1,026 | 1.9% |
| Clinical Athletic Trainers | 1,470 | 2.7% |
| On-Site Industrial Athletic Trainers | 2,259 | 4.1% |
| Licensed Athletic Trainers | 421 | 0.8% |
| Injury Prevention Specialists | 309 | 0.6% |
| Athletic Trainers Physician Extender | 290 | 0.5% |
| Critical Care Transport Registered Nurses | 72 | 0.1% |
| Athletic Specialists | 123 | 0.2% |
| Athletic Equipment Managers | 173 | 0.3% |
| Sports Performance Trainers | 138 | 0.2% |
| Athletic Training Assistants | 107 | 0.2% |
| Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers | 80 | 0.1% |
| Athletic Assistants | 77 | 0.1% |
| Sports Performance Specialists | 168 | 0.3% |
| Sports Medicine Assistants | 94 | 0.2% |
| Athletic Training Fellows | 110 | 0.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for assistant athletic trainers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for assistant athletic trainers.
How much do assistant athletic trainers make?
Assistant Athletic Trainers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.