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The differences between certified trainers and certified athletic trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a certified trainer and a certified athletic trainer. Additionally, a certified trainer has an average salary of $54,770, which is higher than the $47,184 average annual salary of a certified athletic trainer.
The top three skills for a certified trainer include safety procedures, food safety and customer service. The most important skills for a certified athletic trainer are rehabilitation, CPR, and patient care.
| Certified Trainer | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $54,770 | $47,184 |
| Hourly rate | $26.33 | $22.68 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 54,839 | 90,171 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A certified trainer is responsible for creating a customized fitness program for clients to improve their body functions, including their cardiovascular stability, balance, flexibility, and overall wellness for a healthy lifestyle. Certified trainers determine the clients' fitness goals, monitoring the clients' progress, and adjusting training plans as needed. They also monitor their clients' food intake, encouraging them to follow strict diet procedures to maintain nutritional standards and practice health disciplines. A certified trainer must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of the fitness industry.
A certified athletic trainer is a health and medical expert who specializes in providing health care assistance to athletes. They typically devise strategies to prevent injuries during training sessions and other activities, develop health care plans, and provide immediate care or first aid when injuries occur. There are also instances where they work together with physicians and other health care professionals, such as when diagnosing and treating injuries, developing rehabilitation structures, and administrating other health care services.
Certified trainers and certified athletic trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Trainer | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Average salary | $54,770 | $47,184 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $95,000 | Between $36,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a certified trainer and a certified athletic trainer in terms of educational background:
| Certified Trainer | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Athletic Training |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between certified trainers' and certified athletic trainers' demographics:
| Certified Trainer | Certified Athletic Trainer | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.1% Female, 55.9% | Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.8% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |