Jobs Similar to Athletic Trainers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to athletic trainers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Physical Therapists, Exercise Physiologists and Sports Medicine Physicians.
Athletic Trainers: $62,520 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Athletic Trainers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical Therapists | 83% | $102,760+64% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Exercise Physiologists | 83% | $59,460−5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Sports Medicine Physicians | 83% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 82% | $68,380+9% | Training or associate |
| 5 | MidwivesSame group | 82% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | 82% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Registered Nurses | 81% | $97,550+56% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 81% | $64,400+3% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Acute Care Nurses | 81% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Occupational Therapists | 80% | $100,330+60% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Chiropractors | 80% | $79,200+27% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Critical Care Nurses | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Physician Assistants | 80% | $135,880+117% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Acupuncturists | 79% | $76,040+22% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 79% | $292,910+369% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Podiatrists | 79% | $160,300+156% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Naturopathic Physicians | 79% | $115,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 79% | $256,560+310% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 79% | $72,300+16% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Nurse Midwives | 79% | $134,040+114% | Graduate degree |
- 1Physical Therapists
83% similar · $102,760 (+64%) · Graduate degree
- 2Exercise Physiologists
83% similar · $59,460 (−5%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Sports Medicine Physicians
83% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 4Physical Therapist Assistants
82% similar · $68,380 (+9%) · Training or associate
- 5Midwives
82% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
82% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Registered Nurses
81% similar · $97,550 (+56%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
81% similar · $64,400 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 9Acute Care Nurses
81% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Occupational Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 (+60%) · Graduate degree
- 11Chiropractors
80% similar · $79,200 (+27%) · Graduate degree
- 12Critical Care Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Physician Assistants
80% similar · $135,880 (+117%) · Graduate degree
- 14Acupuncturists
79% similar · $76,040 (+22%) · Graduate degree
- 15Obstetricians and Gynecologists
79% similar · $292,910 (+369%) · Graduate degree
- 16Podiatrists
79% similar · $160,300 (+156%) · Graduate degree
- 17Naturopathic Physicians
79% similar · $115,210 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18General Internal Medicine Physicians
79% similar · $256,560 (+310%) · Graduate degree
- 19Occupational Therapy Assistants
79% similar · $72,300 (+16%) · Training or associate
- 20Nurse Midwives
79% similar · $134,040 (+114%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than athletic trainers.
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists79% similar · $292,910 (+369%)
- General Internal Medicine Physicians79% similar · $256,560 (+310%)
- Podiatrists79% similar · $160,300 (+156%)
- Physician Assistants80% similar · $135,880 (+117%)
- Nurse Midwives79% similar · $134,040 (+114%)
- Physical Therapists83% similar · $102,760 (+64%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Exercise Physiologists83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Physical Therapist Assistants82% similar · Training or associate
- Registered Nurses81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses81% similar · Training or associate
- Acute Care Nurses81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Critical Care Nurses80% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for athletic trainers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where athletic trainers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like athletic trainers
What jobs are most similar to athletic trainers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Physical Therapists (83% similar), Exercise Physiologists (83% similar), Sports Medicine Physicians (83% similar), Physical Therapist Assistants (82% similar) and Midwives (82% similar).
Which jobs like athletic trainers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($292,910, +369%; usually a graduate degree), General Internal Medicine Physicians ($256,560, +310%; usually a graduate degree) and Podiatrists ($160,300, +156%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with athletic trainers ($62,520). Without more preparation than athletic trainers usually need: Obstetricians and Gynecologists, General Internal Medicine Physicians and Podiatrists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.