Average Salary for Sports Medicine
If sports is your passion, but you prefer a career on the sidelines, the field of sports medicine could be an interesting job choice to look into. Sports medicine professionals can earn above-average salaries, according to an April 2010 survey by Payscale.com, often averaging more than $29,000 a year for those just starting out in the field.
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The Job Field
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The field of sports medicine encompasses a variety of different jobs in the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. Most positions in the industry require a formal education, certification and a state license. Different positions in sports medicine include personal trainers, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and sports medicine physicians. Salary opportunities for these jobs can vary depending on several factors including the type of work you do.
Job Type
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According to an April 2010 survey by Payscale.com, exercise physiologists in the sports medicine field are reporting average earnings of $16.63 an hour, or $34,590 if working full-time. Athletic trainers, who work primarily with high school sports departments, earn slightly more, reporting average earnings of $17.60 an hour, or $36,608 each year. Personal trainers can be found in many fitness clubs and earn $19.69 an hour, or nearly $41,000 a year.
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Experience Levels
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Your level of job experience as a sports medicine professional can play a big part in your overall earnings potential, according to a 2010 finding by Payscale.com. The average starting salary in the field is $13.99 per hour, or $29,099 a year. After you have gained at least a year of job experience in the sports medicine industry, your earnings could rise to $15.37 an hour, or $31,969 each year. Those workers who have been on the job for at least 5 years are reporting average earnings of $21.52 an hour, or $44,761 each year. Sports medicine professionals with at least a decade of experience are earning an average of $27.20 an hour, or $56,576 a year.
Location
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The area in the United States where you work can also make a difference in the size of your paychecks. According to a 2010 report by Payscale.com, those sports medicine workers in the state of Pennsylvania are earning $15.31 an hour, followed by their counterparts in Illinois, who reporting average wages of $16,67 an hour, or $34,673 a year. Sports medicine professionals in Florida are earning on average $18.20 an hour, or $37,856 annually. Using your sports medicine training in New York state can increase earnings to an average of $20.80 an hour. Those workers in California are reporting earning $21.40 an hour, or $44,699 each year.
Industry
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According to a 2010 finding by Payscale.com, those sports medicine professionals working in the physical therapy industry are reporting average earnings of $15.38 an hour, or $32,000 each year. The fitness club industry generally pays higher wages to those with sports medicine training--up to $18.21 an hour, or $37,876 each year. Sports medicine employees in the healthcare industry are reporting average wages of $18.50 each hour, or $38,480 annually.
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References
- Photo Credit Beautiful Female fitness trainer. image by Paul Hill from Fotolia.com
