Entry-Level Athletic Trainer Salary in Salt Lake City, UT: $63,343 (2026)
Quick Answer:New athletic trainers entering the Salt Lake City, UT job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $63,343 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-9091, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Salt Lake City's local price level (BEA RPP 100.9 — 1% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $62,798 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($69,035) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
For recent graduates looking to break into the field, the anticipated entry-level athletic trainer salary in Salt Lake City is around $63,343 in 2026. This starting figure is slightly below the overall city median salary of $69,035, suggesting that new professionals can expect to gradually increase their earnings as they gain experience and skills. Many new grads may find opportunities to grow their salary trajectory from the $63,343 entry point through to the $68,679 mark within just a few years, which speaks to a robust market for athletic trainers in the area. With a projected annual growth rate of 4.63%, Salt Lake City offers a favorable environment for those entering the profession, making it a viable option for new graduates in Utah.
Career Earnings Timeline in Salt Lake City
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salt Lake City
Entry-level athletic trainers in Salt Lake City, UT typically start between $63,343 and $68,679 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $22,108 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $69,035 — 5.53% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average athletic training program cost in Utah of $48,000 represents just 75.78% of the starting athletic trainer pay ($63,343/year) in Salt Lake City. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on CAATE-accredited Master of Science in Athletic Training programs. Tuition varies between public in-state and private institutions; the BOC certification exam is required after graduation for practice.
AT, ATC Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Salt Lake City
- 1Research the Salt Lake City market: entry-level athletic trainer pay ranges from $63,343 to $68,679, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the athletic training field — employers in UT often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Salt Lake City, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Salt Lake City for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Salt Lake City's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Athletic Trainer Compensation Range
The athletic trainer wage spread in Salt Lake City is $22,108 ( 34.90%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $63,343, experienced hygienists can earn up to $85,451.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$22,640
2025 BLS Actual
$60,540
2026 Current Est.
$63,343
2019–2027 Growth
+192.7%
Salary Trajectory for Athletic Trainers in Salt Lake City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22,640 | Actual |
| 2020 | $23,500 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,080 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,910 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,980 | Actual |
| 2024 | $54,040 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,540 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,343 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,276 | Projected |
Entry-level athletic trainer compensation (10th percentile) in Salt Lake City, UT grew 167.4% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $22,640 in 2019 to $60,540 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $66,276. New graduates entering the Salt Lake City job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your athletic training Career in Salt Lake City
Employers in Salt Lake City tend to hire new graduates primarily through high school athletic training programs, as many of these services are often outsourced to hospital sports medicine departments. Positions in industrial settings, such as factories and distribution centers, frequently recruit athletic trainers through specialty staffing agencies and typically offer starting salaries that can exceed those in traditional educational environments by 30% to 50%. To enhance starting pay, obtaining credentials from the BOC, earning a state license, and pursuing a master's degree from a CAATE-accredited program are essential steps, especially since the transition to master's-level education as of 2022 eliminated the previous bachelor's degree pathway. For those beginning their careers, a strategic focus on gaining experience in industrial environments or seeking out additional specialty certifications may lead to significant salary improvements in those first critical years.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, MS, ATC
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in athletic training. She specializes in injury prevention and rehabilitation. She has worked at several high schools and collegiate athletic programs.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new athletic training graduates. A 4.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Salt Lake City. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for athletic trainers (SOC 29-9091).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MS, ATC, a licensed athletic trainer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov