121 New Athletic Trainer Jobs — Monday, April 27th, 2026 - Is it a changing day at NATA?

121 new athletic trainer jobs this week. After a few weeks headlined by a $240,000 USC director role, an NFL spotter position, and a TBI diagnostic role nobody had ever seen before, this week was quieter. No jaw-dropping headlines, no single role that stops the scroll. Just a solid, honest cross-section of the market doing what it does most weeks.

The cost-of-living math is doing more work than usual this week. The highest converted ceiling on the board — $120,245 — belongs to a secondary school district in Silicon Valley. The strongest financial picture of the week belongs to a school district in rural Oregon where a salary approaching $100,000 comes with one of the best public pension systems in the country. Same profession, completely different financial reality depending on where you land. That is the story of this market right now and it probably will be for a while.

Two roles this week generated enough negative subscriber feedback that I went back and took a harder look. One is a Director of Sports Medicine at a D-I program that was reposted this week after sitting open for a month — same job, same salary, no adjustments. The other is a hospital system AT position in Vermont, right in my backyard, that pays less than the Medical Assistant role working in the same clinic. That Vermont story is not just a Vermont problem. It is happening in markets across the country, and it deserves more than a quick mention. Both are in the Worth Calling Out section at the end.

Let’s get into the picks.

Athletic Trainer  |  Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District

Los Gatos, CA  |  $43.14–$57.81/hr ($89,731–$120,245 Annually)

The highest converted ceiling on the board this week belongs to a secondary school district in Silicon Valley. Full-time, benefits included, dual role combining traditional athletic training with health office support. Los Gatos is in the heart of one of the most expensive housing markets in the country — median home prices run well over $2 million and cost of living sits 150–200% above the national average on housing alone. The converted ceiling at $120,245 is exceptional but needs to be evaluated against what it actually costs to live there. For an AT already based in the Bay Area or committed to it, this is one of the strongest secondary school postings on the market this year. For anyone relocating, run the full housing math before applying. Ask how the split between athletic training duties and health office support is structured in practice — that answer defines the day-to-day job.

Athletic Trainer  |  North Wasco County School District 21

The Dalles, OR  |  $46,665–$99,362 (Annual)

The most compelling COL-adjusted pick of the week. The Dalles sits in the Columbia River Gorge — a small city of about 15,000 with a cost of living close to the national average, far below Portland or the Oregon coast. The salary ceiling at $99,362 reflects PERS eligibility at the top of the range — Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System is one of the most generous defined benefit plans in the country and adds substantial long-term value beyond the base salary. 220-day contract with a defined summer. The posting notes “Teacher” in the title — ask specifically what classroom or instructional requirements come with that designation and where you would fall within that wide range before accepting. For an AT open to a smaller market with genuine outdoor lifestyle appeal, this is a salary ceiling and retirement combination that is hard to match in a secondary school setting.

Athletic Trainer  |  NPAworldwide

Elmira, NY  |  $55,000–$88,608 (Annual) + $10,000 Sign-On

NPAworldwide is a direct-hire staffing placement — this is a permanent position, not a contract. Elmira is in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, running roughly 10–15% below the national average on cost of living. The $88,608 ceiling with a $10,000 sign-on bonus in an affordable market is genuinely strong total compensation. Coverage spans high school, collegiate, and semi-professional athletes including the Elmira Pioneers. Paid maternity and paternity leave confirmed. Tuition assistance for ongoing professional development. The $10,000 sign-on is structured over 36 months — ask about the payout schedule and any clawback provisions before committing. Also ask how the multi-site coverage is managed day to day and whether a home base exists or travel is constant.

Wellness Coordinator / Director  |  Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Becket, MA  |  $40.00/hr (Seasonal, May–September)

This one is seasonal and it needs to be evaluated on those terms — but it is unlike anything else on the board this week. Jacob’s Pillow is one of the most celebrated dance festivals in the world, and this role puts a BOC-certified AT at the center of a residential performing arts community as the primary lead for all medical and mental health response. Housing and up to three meals per day while on duty are included — in rural western Massachusetts where cost of living is low, that package meaningfully changes the financial picture for a May–September commitment. Master’s degree in Athletic Training, Sports Medicine, nursing, or physician assistant required. For an AT between positions, building a specialized practice area in dance medicine, or looking for a genuinely unusual clinical experience, this is worth serious attention.

Athletic Trainer Community I  |  UCHealth

Colorado Springs, CO  |  $24.11–$36.17/hr ($50,149–$75,234 Annually)

The 3-Year Incentive Bonus is the detail that gets this posting highlighted. The bonus accumulates annually and pays out after three years of employment — a meaningful financial reward for tenure that most outreach postings do not offer. Annual merit increases tied to performance. Up to 100% of tuition, books, and fees paid for specific degree programs. Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible. 403(b) with employer matching plus a 457(b) option. Colorado Springs runs close to the national average on cost of living and the converted range is solid purchasing power there. For an AT with student debt or graduate school aspirations, the combination of PSLF eligibility and 100% tuition coverage may be the most valuable element of this package.

In Case You Missed It

These employers have committed resources to enhancing their job's visibility and confirmed their salary ranges.

Industrial Athletic Trainer | Work-Fit (Alliance PTP)

Everett, WA | $31.25–$36.06/hour

Four 10-hour days (Tue–Fri) or a 3rd shift option. $31.25–$36.06/hour with full benefits, 401k match, student loan reimbursement (2–3 years), BOC + license fees covered, and unlimited CEUs with Medbridge. No weekends, true 40-hour work week. This is a straightforward industrial role that doesn’t try to hide anything — the pay is clear, the schedule is defined, and the financial support is real. The biggest variable here is lifestyle (4-day schedule vs. 3rd shift), but either way you’re getting structure and stability that a lot of traditional settings still don’t offer.

Worth Calling Out This Week

Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer / Director of Sports Medicine  |  Bradley University

Peoria, IL  |  $55,000–$65,000 (Annual)

Bradley University reposted this role after it sat open for nearly a month. Same position. Same salary. Director of Sports Medicine at a Division I Missouri Valley Conference program, primary coverage for Men’s Basketball, full administrative scope, NCAA compliance responsibility, irregular hours and weekends required. $55-65k… We have featured assistant-level roles this year at programs with similar profiles that posted much higher ceilings than this. Peoria runs 15% below the national average on cost of living, which helps at the margins. But the market already gave Bradley its answer once. With this repost is the response, I’d anticipate the market will provide that answer again. What’s the definition of insanity again?

Athletic Trainer  |  Copley Hospital / Mansfield Orthopaedics

Waterbury, VT  |  $22.00–$26.00/hr ($45,760–$54,080 Annually)

The Medical Assistant position posted by the same clinic three weeks ago tops out at $28.52 per hour. This Athletic Trainer role tops out at $26.00. Aside from the fact that that is abysmally low for the market in this state, The Medical Assistant requires a high school diploma. The Athletic Trainer requires a graduate degree, BOC national certification, Vermont state licensure, and ongoing CEU maintenance. Both roles work in the same building, with the same surgeons, performing overlapping clinical and administrative tasks. Copley pays the credential that requires more and compensates it less. If you are an AT in Vermont evaluating this posting, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. This employer is clearly communicating the value they place on ATs with that salary. There are plenty of other roles open that will compensate you more competitively if you are looking to come to the green mountain state. 

What's Worth Noting This Week:

Feels like something shifted this week.

For a long time, we’ve all been saying the same thing — this isn’t a competency problem, it’s a structure problem. ATs are more than capable, but we’re constantly being dropped into situations that don’t allow us to practice at the top of our licensure or skill sets.

This week, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association finally said it out loud.

In response to the situation in Ipswich, Massachusetts, NATA didn’t just recycle the usual talking points. They went a step further and acknowledged what most of us already know — student-athlete safety cannot rely on isolated event coverage alone. It requires a system.

That’s straight from their statement.

And that’s a big deal. Because for years, the messaging was largely absent. (the last "statement" came in 2019. And when there was messaging that messaging leaned more toward the “everything’s great” version of the profession — highlighting the positives, promoting the value of ATs — but rarely taking a real stance on the uglier parts that many of us deal with on a daily basis.

That disconnect hasn’t gone unnoticed.

It’s part of what’s created the divide a lot of ATs have felt — where the reality on the ground doesn’t always match what’s being communicated at the national level, and where it can feel like we’re not fully being represented when it matters most.

This felt different.

This wasn’t about pumping up the profession — it was about acknowledging that athlete health and safety hinges on structure, planning, and administrative backing — and without it, situations are set up to fail before they even start.

That’s the reality most of us are dealing with every day.

Maybe this is the start of actually being the “new day” at NATA that’s been talked about for a while now.

Or maybe it’s just a statement.

Only time will tell — but at least this time, this messaging sounds a lot closer to alignment with the majority of the profession than we have seen in a long time.

Until next week — stop looking, start finding.