Salary survey of certified athletic trainers in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain salary information from certified athletic trainers in District Two of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) for use as a reference guide to assist entry-level and experienced ATCs interested in obtaining athletic training positions in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Design and Setting: Mailed survey, sample of convenience. This study was conducted in the Sports Medicine Department of a children's hospital. Subjects: A survey was sent to all 2,274 certified members of District Two. Of the surveys mailed, 970 (42.7%) were returned. Of the surveys returned, 725 (74.7%) were from full-time athletic trainers, 105 (10.8%) were from part-time athletic trainers, and 140 (14.4%) were unusable. Measurements: A survey consisting of 15 questions related to salaries and demographics of the athletic trainers' employment settings. Results: Forty-eight percent of the respondents were employed in the clinic or hospital setting, and almost 48% of those responding possessed a master's degree. The state with the highest response rate was Pennsylvania with 45% of the total. The highest rate of response according to experience was 27% from athletic trainers having 4 to 6 years of experience. According to practice setting, the lowest mean salary was $32,928 +/- $10,098 at the college or university level, and the highest was $59,778 +/- $48,803 at the professional sport level. According to education level, the lowest mean salary was $30,132 +/- $9,584 (bachelor's degree), and the highest was $48,070 +/- $12,973 (PT or ATC). The mean salary by state was lowest in Delaware ($32,330 +/- $12,865) and highest in New Jersey ($36,695 +/- $12,593). The highest mean salary by years of experience was $57,308 +/- $30,723 (25 years or more). Conclusions: Further comparative studies in this area need to be conducted to recognize current trends with the intent of establishing national or regional standards of salary compensation for certified athletic trainers.