Teams and clinics use wearables, video analysis and software that tracks workload and injury history. Athletic trainers still assess injuries on the field, give emergency care, tape and brace, and guide athletes back to play.
The short answer: AI exposure is low and demand is growing. The ILO's 2025 index rates physiotherapists, the closest group, at minimal exposure with a score of 0.28. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13 percent growth for athletic trainers from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 2,400 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed athletic trainers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapists | Minimal exposure | 0.28 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for athletic trainers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic trainers | Grow 13% | About 2,400 |
The BLS points to sports participation across age groups, demand in college athletics, and more physical activity among middle-aged and older adults, which brings more injuries to manage. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Tracking training load and flagging injury risk from wearable data.
- Analyzing movement from video.
- Drafting injury reports and rehab plans for review.
- Scheduling treatments and follow-ups.
What stays with athletic trainers
- On-field response: assessing injuries and giving emergency care.
- Hands-on treatment: taping, bracing and guided rehab.
- Return-to-play calls: working with physicians, coaches and athletes.
- Checking AI help: risk scores and drafted plans can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
More data from wearables and video gives trainers earlier warning signs, and reading that data well is becoming part of the job. The care itself stays in person. This page is general information, not medical or career advice.
See also will AI replace physical therapists?, will AI replace fitness trainers? and will AI replace coaches?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for athletic trainers at $62,520 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: master's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace athletic trainers?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO group has minimal exposure, and the BLS projects 13 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Why is athletic trainer employment growing?
The BLS points to sports participation across ages, college athletics and more activity among middle-aged and older adults.
How many athletic trainer openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 2,400 openings a year.
What athletic training work stays human?
On-field injury response, hands-on treatment, return-to-play decisions and checking automated risk scores.