Athletic Trainers Salary
The median pay for a athletic trainers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $53,440/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers.
So what does $53K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.5). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About athletic trainers
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What this looks like in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Pay for athletic trainers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,095/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.5 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for athletic trainers in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $57K | , |
| Winston-Salem | $59K | , |
| Greensboro-High Point | $52K | , |
| Raleigh-Cary | $60K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level athletic trainers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Athletic Trainers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Athletic Trainers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78K | +26% | 1,760 |
| Hawaii | $76K | +22% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +22% | 890 |
| District of Columbia | $74K | +19% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +16% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $70K | +12% | 630 |
| Connecticut | $70K | +12% | 290 |
| New York | $66K | +6% | 1,370 |
| Utah | $66K | +6% | 340 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +5% | 820 |
| Illinois | $65K | +4% | 850 |
| Georgia | $65K | +3% | 860 |
| Colorado | $65K | +3% | 380 |
| Texas | $64K | +3% | 3,130 |
| Maryland | $64K | +2% | 320 |
| Washington | $64K | +2% | 240 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +2% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $63K | +1% | 60 |
| Vermont | $63K | +1% | 140 |
| Indiana | $63K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $63K | +0% | 810 |
| Maine | $62K | -1% | 180 |
| Virginia | $62K | -1% | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -1% | 620 |
| Arizona | $62K | -1% | 590 |
| Ohio | $61K | -2% | 2,100 |
| Florida | $61K | -2% | 1,430 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -2% | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 1,870 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -2% | 270 |
| North Dakota | $61K | -3% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -3% | 720 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | -4% | 210 |
| Montana | $60K | -4% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -4% | 580 |
| Nevada | $60K | -4% | 180 |
| Delaware | $60K | -5% | 50 |
| Michigan | $59K | -5% | 870 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -5% | 530 |
| Kansas | $59K | -5% | 390 |
| Missouri | $59K | -6% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $59K | -6% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -7% | 200 |
| Oregon | $58K | -8% | 280 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -8% | 240 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -10% | 990 |
| Iowa | $55K | -11% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -19% | 110 |
| Alabama | $47K | -25% | 840 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track athletic trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletic trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for athletic trainers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletic trainers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,715/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is athletic trainer a high-paying job in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $53K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for athletic trainers?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.5), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do athletic trainers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $53,440 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,250, and experienced athletic trainers can clear $64,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,548/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a athletic trainers salary go in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median athletic trainers salary is worth about $60,384 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do athletic trainers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.