Athletic Trainers Salary
The median pay for a athletic trainers in Virginia is $61,860/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $65,260 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 40.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Virginia?
About athletic trainers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Athletic trainers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 40.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level athletic trainers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Athletic Trainers salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $66K | +7% | 60 |
| Harrisonburg | $63K | +2% | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $62K | -0% | 190 |
| Richmond | $60K | -2% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track athletic trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletic trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 40.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for athletic trainers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletic trainers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,950/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for athletic trainers?
Virginia pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do athletic trainers make in Virginia?
The median is $61,860 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,170, and experienced athletic trainers can clear $87,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,059/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 40.6% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median athletic trainers salary is worth about $65,260 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.