In today’s NBA, where the $140.6 million salary-cap max is the largest it has ever been, teams are spending as much as possible to give themselves the best chances of winning.
Players aren’t the only part of the equation for GMs when evaluating their team’s budget. Equipment for the players and hiring the staff of athletic trainers are just two additional budget items they must account for.
The NBA’s athletic trainers earn good salaries when compared to their counterparts in other major professional sports.
NBA athletic trainers make about $57,930 annually, the second-highest among trainers in major U.S. professional sports. The 25th percentile of earners make $65,000 and the 75th percentile make $140,000.
Salary-cap apron restructuring leaguewide would impact players first and foremost, but athletic trainers would benefit from the infusion of more financial leeway for NBA teams.
Average salary figures and bonus estimates for NBA athletic trainers:
Salary: $57,930
Bonuses: N/A
Benefits: 401K employer match, paid time off, employee assistance programs
Since NBA teams—not the NBA itself—employ training staff, salaries can vary. For example, teams over the salary-cap apron, like the Bucks, may not be able to pay their training staff salaries in that 75th percentile, but a team like the Pistons with $14 million in cap space may be able to.
It’s far more complicated than that since teams that make the playoffs consistently tend to invest a lot in their staff, regardless of the luxury tax.
The salaries of NBA athletic trainers aren’t made publicly available. It’s hard to tell who earns the most other than through surveys of athletic trainers’ salaries or surveys completed by players rating their teams, similar to what the NFLPA does.
The field of athletic training is expected to grow 13% by 2033, much faster than the 4% industry average across all occupations. One reason, especially within professional sports like the NBA, is the increased awareness of the impact of sports-related injuries on athletes.
NBA athletic trainers are second only to the NFL in their earning potential. The NBA’s athletic trainers can earn up to $140,000 compared to the potential of up to $300,000 in the NFL.
As the NBA inches toward its first billion-dollar players, the trickle-down effect will surely benefit every member of an NBA team, including the athletic trainers.
NBA Athletic Trainers FAQ
- How much do NBA team athletic trainers make?
- NBA athletic trainers earn, on average, $57,930 annually. Each NBA team hires its own athletic trainers so this number can vary significantly based on the team.
- What is the highest salary?
- The highest reported salary range for an NBA athletic trainer is $140,000. As previously mentioned, this range can vary based on the team, performance, and experience of the athletic trainer.
- How do you become an athletic trainer for the NBA?
- NBA athletic trainers must first obtain a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s degree, and finally, a certification administered by the Board of Certification. The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) states that athletic trainers partake in a mixture of professional education and hands-on learning. Once both are completed, the athletic trainer can gain experience through the high school, college, or G League level in hopes of working their way to the NBA.
