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Job outlook for sports medicine physicians in the United States
Are sports medicine physician jobs in demand?
Sports medicine physician job and salary trends over time
Sports medicine physician jobs over time
Sports medicine physician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 419 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 128 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 447 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,440 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,315 | 0.00% |
Average sports medicine physician salary over time
Sports medicine physician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $200,146 | $96.22 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $195,287 | $93.89 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $191,992 | $92.30 | --5.0% |
| 2023 | $202,027 | $97.13 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $197,755 | $95.07 | +4.7% |
Sports medicine physician jobs by state
Most common states for sports medicine physicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 172 | 20% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 120 | 16% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 204 | 15% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 278 | 13% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 80 | 13% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 721 | 12% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 130 | 12% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 89 | 12% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 629 | 11% |
| 10 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 138 | 10% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,193 | 9% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 625 | 9% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 581 | 8% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 563 | 8% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 535 | 8% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 396 | 8% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 352 | 8% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 302 | 8% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 234 | 8% |
| 20 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 110 | 8% |
Most common cities for sports medicine physicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason City | 1 | 4% | $193,106 |
| 2 | Encinitas | 1 | 2% | $220,532 |
| 3 | Janesville | 1 | 2% | $241,013 |
| 4 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $214,430 |
| 5 | Rochester | 1 | 1% | $196,392 |
| 6 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $218,736 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $228,041 |
| 8 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $198,225 |
| 9 | Greensboro | 1 | 0% | $228,065 |
| 10 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $214,711 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City | 1 | 0% | $217,917 |
Sports Medicine Physician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sports medicine physician experts
Campbell University
Marshall University
The University of Akron
Washburn University
Rachel Chappell
Assistant Program Director, Associate ProfessorWhat will help Sports Medicine Physicians increase their earning potential?
Rachel Chappell: Nights, holidays, weekends, and surgical subspecialty usually ensure a higher salary. Unfortunately, most of them are also associated with higher rates of burnout.
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP
Assistant Professor of Family MedicineCampbell University
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
What Sports Medicine Physician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP: Multiple resources suggest the following could be more prevelant and important in the field of osteopathic medicine in the next 3-5 years.
Lifestyle Medicine: There's a growing interest in lifestyle medicine among osteopathic physicians. This field focuses on the treatment, reversal, and prevention of chronic disease by addressing root causes with evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic interventions.
Technology Integration: As technology continues to advance, it's becoming increasingly important for osteopathic physicians to be able to integrate and leverage these technologies in their practice.
Leadership and Advocacy: Skills in leadership and advocacy are becoming more important as the field grows and evolves. These skills can help osteopathic physicians advocate for themselves, their patients, and their profession.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams is crucial. As health care becomes more integrated, osteopathic physicians will need to collaborate with a wide range of health professionals to provide comprehensive patient care.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): OMT is a core skill for osteopathic physicians, and its importance is likely to continue or even increase as patients seek it out.
What will help Sports Medicine Physicians increase their earning potential?
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP: Starting a career in osteopathic medicine is an exciting journey! Here are some general pieces of advice that might be helpful:
Continuous Learning: Medicine is a field that is constantly evolving. Stay updated with the latest research, techniques, and advancements in your field. Attend seminars, workshops, and conferences whenever possible.
Patient-Centered Care: Remember, as an osteopathic physician, your approach is to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Develop strong patient communication skills and always consider their mental and emotional health along with their physical health.
Networking: Building professional relationships can open up opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth. Join professional organizations and participate in community service.
Self-Care: The medical profession can be demanding. It's important to take care of your own physical and mental health. Find a balance between work and personal life.
Ethics: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. Your reputation is built not only on your osteopathic medical skills but also on your integrity and interaction with patients, colleagues, and the community.
Mentorship: Seek out mentors who can guide you through your career. Their experience and advice can be invaluable.
Remember, every journey begins with a single step. Best of luck with your career in osteopathic medicine!
What Sports Medicine Physician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Colclough: This is a great question, and if I wish I had the answer. I do know this however, performers need to have a skill set that can subsidize their careers. The restaurant/bar industry, more than any other has answered this call. Unfortunately Covid-19 has impacted the restaurant/bar industry more than any other. So challenging on so many levels. What to do? Practical skills that correlate to an individual's unique interests seem like a good place to start. How can the performer utilize known skills to garner a paycheck? Everything from handyman/construction for those who excelled in their technical theatre classes, to personal assistants for those who have a flair for logistics could offer avenues for success if developed. With technology taking more of a central role in the industry, it's possible to enhance those skills during a gap year-this may not help with your monthly bottom line (financially speaking) but would make you better prepared once the year is over. Gap years are a perfect time to hone those skills that need a bit of TLC, for instance: dance classes, voice classes, picking up a second language or a musical instrument-anything that might add another skill set to the resume is worth the time and effort.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Medicine Physician?
John Colclough: Be patient and stay informed. Many performers think their career is about the work in the rehearsal hall or in performance-not so, the real work is in the management of your business. Being an authority of WHO, WHAT and WHERE is key. WHO are the players in your market? The directors, actors, casting people, producing organizations, etc...these are who you need to know-your network. WHAT opportunities exist in your market? The theatres, video companies, universities (if you have an MFA you may be able to teach a class or two), Improvisation groups, any opportunity that allows you to grow your brand is worth your attention. And finally, WHERE are the opportunities-knowing your community and having a sense of how each company fits into the fabric of the community. Having a sense of where the company resides both geographically and virtually (web sites) and having a solid knowledge base of details of each company can inform your marketing tactics as well as provide you with specific details unique to each organization. Careers develop over time and keeping expectations realistic over the first year can be challenging. Be practical and methodical in your approach: save money (there's never enough), find a place to live (the best you can afford), find a side hustle (you're going to need money and routine), find out the lay of the land (WHO, WHAT, and WHERE), develop your skill set (take a class and meet colleagues), go to productions, screenings, workshops, document your growth (keep a journal or calendar to track your progress), celebrate your successes and be patient with your stumbles-Hard knocks are the best teachers!
What skills stand out on Sports Medicine Physician resumes?
Dr. Stephen Weeks: Generally, employers like to see "hands-on" skills for graduates. So, lab-based classes, internships, volunteer work (e.g., in hospitals or other health care settings), and experience in research labs look great on resumes. Because biology is such a diverse field, I cannot point to specific skills for the entire range of biology. Generally, however, having good writing skills will almost certainly be helpful for any biology career.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sports Medicine Physicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Weeks: I do not know the answer to this question. Healthcare is the fastest growing job market in biology, and such jobs are located primarily in larger metropolitan areas across the country.
What are the best companies to work for a Sports Medicine Physician?
Brian Thomas Ph.D.: A degree in physics can open doors to working at companies in a variety of industries. Research and development teams at aerospace, computer, software, telecommunications, and other technical-focused companies employ people with degrees in physics at all levels. People trained in physics also work in other areas, including journalism, finance, even the entertainment industry. I don't know that I can recommend any specific companies, but generally, any company focused on technical solutions will likely be a good fit.