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Sports Medicine Specialists play a crucial role in healthcare, focusing on the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. As of October 2025, the average salary for these professionals is around $76,238 per year. This figure reflects various factors including location, experience, and the specific healthcare setting employed.
In states like California and New York, salaries can be significantly higher due to a greater demand for healthcare services. For example, a specialist in California might earn over $85,000 annually, while those in less populated states may see lower averages.
Experience also plays a vital role in determining salary. Entry-level positions may start around $60,000, whereas seasoned specialists with advanced certifications and a strong track record can command salaries exceeding $100,000. Job roles in high-demand settings, such as professional sports teams or major medical centers, often provide higher compensation packages.
Overall, the field of sports medicine offers promising career trajectories, with opportunities for specialization and advancement. Continuous education and staying updated with the latest practices can enhance earning potential and career satisfaction.
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The highest-paying states for sports medicine specialists are Illinois, New York, and Iowa. The lowest average sports medicine specialist salary states are Washington, Nevada, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $124,766 | $59.98 |
| 2 | Indiana | $123,433 | $59.34 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $121,340 | $58.34 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $115,190 | $55.38 |
| 5 | Illinois | $129,445 | $62.23 |
| 6 | Kansas | $120,486 | $57.93 |
| 7 | Maine | $113,775 | $54.70 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $124,696 | $59.95 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $114,626 | $55.11 |
| 10 | Michigan | $119,419 | $57.41 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $115,614 | $55.58 |
| 12 | Missouri | $115,587 | $55.57 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $112,519 | $54.10 |
| 14 | New York | $125,049 | $60.12 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $110,535 | $53.14 |
| 16 | Ohio | $118,940 | $57.18 |
| 17 | Virginia | $123,267 | $59.26 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $105,305 | $50.63 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $115,409 | $55.49 |
| 20 | Maryland | $120,401 | $57.89 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $108,741 | $52.28 |
| 22 | Delaware | $117,933 | $56.70 |
| 23 | Vermont | $105,956 | $50.94 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $111,802 | $53.75 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $104,710 | $50.34 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $110,170 | $52.97 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $117,661 | $56.57 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $107,137 | $51.51 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $99,759 | $47.96 |
| 30 | Alaska | $98,121 | $47.17 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $114,019 | $54.82 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $92,532 | $44.49 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $100,681 | $48.40 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $104,050 | $50.02 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $107,693 | $51.78 |
| 36 | Georgia | $101,953 | $49.02 |
| 37 | Idaho | $101,397 | $48.75 |
| 38 | Montana | $94,999 | $45.67 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $87,029 | $41.84 |
| 40 | Alabama | $98,517 | $47.36 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $85,943 | $41.32 |
| 42 | Oregon | $91,785 | $44.13 |
| 43 | Utah | $98,446 | $47.33 |
| 44 | Washington | $83,264 | $40.03 |
| 45 | Florida | $72,034 | $34.63 |
| 46 | Arizona | $65,674 | $31.57 |
| 47 | Nevada | $80,918 | $38.90 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $56,301 | $27.07 |
| 49 | Texas | $71,276 | $34.27 |
| 50 | California | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| 51 | Colorado | $87,949 | $42.28 |
The highest-paying cities for sports medicine specialists are Evanston, IL, New York, NY, and Indianapolis, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evanston, IL | $173,065 | $83.20 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $160,399 | $77.11 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| 4 | Mechanicsville, VA | $154,132 | $74.10 |
| 5 | Bethesda, MD | $147,560 | $70.94 |
| 6 | Westerville, OH | $146,687 | $70.52 |
| 7 | Wakefield, MA | $142,703 | $68.61 |
| 8 | East Windsor, NJ | $136,108 | $65.44 |
| 9 | Eugene, OR | $97,234 | $46.75 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $92,783 | $44.61 |
| 11 | Aurora, CO | $92,251 | $44.35 |
| 12 | Santa Fe, NM | $91,992 | $44.23 |
| 13 | Bellevue, WA | $87,125 | $41.89 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $83,971 | $40.37 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $79,919 | $38.42 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $68,854 | $33.10 |
A sports medicine specialist's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $199,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $199,000 | $16,583 | $96 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| Average | $76,238 | $6,353 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of sports medicine specialists are sports doctor, athletic team physician, and sports physician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainer | $47,028 | $3,919 | $22.61 | 56,812 |
| Certified Athletic Trainer | $47,184 | $3,932 | $22.68 | 90,171 |
| Physical Therapist | $73,070 | $6,089 | $35.13 | 86,697 |
| Exercise Physiologist | $49,399 | $4,117 | $23.75 | 38,633 |
Top companies hiring sports medicine specialists now:
Sports medicine specialist salaries at UnityPoint Health and North Oaks Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sports medicine specialist salary at companies like NorthShore University HealthSystem and Gotham are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UnityPoint Health | $311,820 | $149.91 |
| 2 | North Oaks Health System | $301,603 | $145.00 |
| 3 | NorthShore University HealthSystem | $276,423 | $132.90 |
| 4 | Gotham | $228,418 | $109.82 |
| 5 | Nationwide Children's Hospital | $161,233 | $77.52 |
| 6 | National Medical Association | $152,503 | $73.32 |
| 7 | HealthSource Chiro | $145,782 | $70.09 |
| 8 | PSEA | $137,517 | $66.11 |
| 9 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $125,375 | $60.28 |
| 10 | Wilson | $118,901 | $57.16 |
| 11 | Hospital for Special Care | $118,086 | $56.77 |
| 12 | University of California | $115,260 | $55.41 |
| 13 | C-A-L Ranch Stores | $114,969 | $55.27 |
| 14 | Kelsey-Seybold Clinic | $114,776 | $55.18 |
| 15 | U.S. Physical Therapy | $107,650 | $51.75 |
| 16 | Amer Sports | $100,458 | $48.30 |
| 17 | Americorps | $94,946 | $45.65 |
| 18 | University of California-Berkeley | $94,056 | $45.22 |
| 19 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center | $92,370 | $44.41 |
| 20 | Stryker | $88,011 | $42.31 |
The average sports medicine specialist salary has risen by $9,018 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sports medicine specialist earned $67,220 annually, but today, they earn $76,238 a year. That works out to a 1% change in pay for sports medicine specialists over the last decade.
Compare sports medicine specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare sports medicine specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $76,200 | $36.65 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $74,400 | $35.76 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $73,100 | $35.16 | -5.2% |
| 2022 | $77,000 | $37.00 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $75,300 | $36.21 | +4.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmates Sdn | Sports Medicine Specialist | Maryland | 02/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Edmates | Sports Medicine Specialist | Maryland | 10/23/2024 | $60,000 |
| Lake Washington Sports & Spine | Sports Medicine--Paid Medical Mentorship | Bellevue, WA | 02/28/2024 | $41,740 |
| State of Minnesota | Athletic Trainer-Sports Medicine Specialist | Willow River, MN | 10/04/2023 | $57,587 |
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