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Athletic Trainers

Education & Traininglowaugment
Projected change (est.): ~+14%
Median Wage (est.): ~$56,420
Employment (est.): ~35K

Overall Exposure

23+8

2025 vs 2023

Theoretical Exposure

40

What AI could do

Observed Exposure

12

What AI actually does

Automation Risk Score

14

Displacement risk

3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)

Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.

Overall Exposure

23→34
+11

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Theoretical Exposure

40→53
+13

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Observed Exposure

12→21
+9

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Automation Risk

14→22
+8

2025 → 2028 (estimated)

Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)

Task Breakdown

Assess and diagnose musculoskeletal injuries
20%β 0
Design and implement rehabilitation exercise programs
30%β 0.5
Provide emergency care and first aid during athletic events
5%β 0
Document patient progress and maintain medical records
55%β 1

About This Occupation

If you work as an Athletic Trainer, AI has limited impact on your profession. With an automation risk of just 14/100 and overall exposure at 23%, this role faces low transformation. The highest-impact area is document patient progress and maintain medical records at 55% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role — AI assists with data tracking while hands-on care remains essential. BLS projects +14% growth through 2034, much faster than average. The physical, interpersonal nature of this work provides strong protection against automation.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 3423ILO official

Fitness and Recreation Instructors and Programme Leaders

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Fitness and recreation instructors and programme leaders lead, guide and instruct groups and individuals in recreational, fitness or outdoor adventure activities.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

View original

Official occupational information

  • ONET29-9091.00

    Athletic Trainers

    Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

    View original
  • ONET39-9031.00

    Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

    Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate techniques and form, observe participants, and explain to them corrective measures necessary to improve their skills. Develop and implement individualized approaches to exercise.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

View original

Frequently Asked Questions

With an automation risk score of 14%, Athletic Trainers has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.

Our estimated AI automation risk score for Athletic Trainers is 14% for 2025. Estimated overall AI exposure is 23%, with 40% theoretical exposure and 12% observed exposure. The estimated risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +6 points. All of these are model-generated estimates, not measurements.

The tasks with the highest automation potential for Athletic Trainers are: Document patient progress and maintain medical records (55%), Design and implement rehabilitation exercise programs (30%), Assess and diagnose musculoskeletal injuries (20%). These rates are our own estimates of how much of each task current AI systems can handle. They are not measurements and are not taken from any external dataset.

We estimate a +14% employment change for Athletic Trainers between 2024 and 2034. This is our own estimate, not a figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Combined with an estimated overall AI exposure of 23%, this occupation faces both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.

Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Athletic Trainers should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.

Recent AI Impact Changes

Mar 2026: New evergreen blog post on AI and athletes. Physical performance at 3-10% automation. BLS projects +13% growth.

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]

Mar 2026: New blog post: athletic trainers face 27% AI exposure, 17% risk. 14% BLS growth.

[Source: ACW Blog]