Salary data is based on the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan area and applied to Riverside using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Athletic Trainers Salaries in Riverside, CA

Average Base Pay

$67,706/yr

9% above national average

Monthly

$5,642

Hourly

$33

Cost Index

109

Athletic Trainers in Riverside, CA earn an average of $67,706 per year, with most salaries falling between $54,165 and $81,247 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 9% above the national average, Riverside ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 109. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Riverside.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$51K
Low

$68K
Median

$85K
High

25th percentile: $58K75th percentile: $78K

About Athletic Trainers

Physical Therapists evaluate and treat patients with movement disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, and post-surgical impairments. Their goal is to restore function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life through evidence-based therapeutic exercise, manual techniques, and patient education. PTs begin each patient encounter with a comprehensive evaluation—reviewing medical history, performing movement assessments, identifying impairments, and establishing baseline functional measures. From this assessment, they develop individualized treatment plans with specific, measurable goals. Treatment sessions incorporate therapeutic exercises to improve strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination; manual therapy techniques to address joint mobility and soft tissue restrictions; and modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and heat or cold. Patient education is integral—PTs teach patients about their conditions, proper body mechanics, home exercise programs, and injury prevention. PTs work in hospitals, outpatient orthopedic clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, sports facilities, and home health settings. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is now the entry-level credential, and many PTs pursue specialty certifications in areas such as sports, orthopedics, neurology, or geriatrics.

What Athletic Trainers Do

Conduct comprehensive patient evaluations including movement and functional assessments
Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable short- and long-term goals
Implement therapeutic exercise programs to improve strength, mobility, and function
Apply manual therapy techniques to address joint and soft tissue restrictions
Use physical modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation
Educate patients on home exercise programs and injury prevention
Document patient progress and modify treatment plans based on outcomes
Collaborate with physicians, occupational therapists, and other care team members

Key Skills & Qualifications

Musculoskeletal and neurological assessment and diagnosis
Therapeutic exercise prescription and progression
Manual therapy techniques including joint mobilization and soft tissue work
Gait analysis and functional movement assessment
Knowledge of therapeutic modalities and their indications
Patient education and motivational interviewing
Electronic health record documentation
State licensure and CPR certification

Career Path

Physical Therapy Technician / Aide
Physical Therapist (DPT)
Specialty Certified PT (OCS, SCS, NCS)
Clinical Supervisor / Director of Rehabilitation
Private Practice Owner / Healthcare Administrator

Athletic Trainers Market in Riverside, CA

Salary Competitiveness

Riverside is one of the stronger-paying markets for Athletic Trainers, with local salaries running approximately 9% above the national median. This premium typically reflects a combination of higher employer competition, concentrated industry presence, and elevated cost expectations built into local compensation norms.

Cost of Living Impact

Riverside sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 71% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Athletic Trainers earning $67,706 in Riverside operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

+9%

Cost Pressure

71%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$49,425

Monthly

$4,119

Weekly

$950

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $67,706 for a Athletic Trainers in Riverside translates to roughly $4,119 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,940—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $1,179 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Riverside's current market.

How far does this salary go in Riverside?

Cost of Living in Riverside

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Riverside, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

109

Above Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,750/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$515/mo

🚗Transportation$140/mo

💡Utilities$210/mo

🏥Healthcare$325/mo

Monthly$2,940

Annual$35,280

Disposable Income$1,179

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Riverside to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$4,119

Living Costs

$2,940

Disposable

$1,179

Cost Index

109

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $4,119, your estimated living costs in Riverside are $2,940 ($35,280/yr). This leaves $1,179 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Riverside's cost of living is 9% above the national average.

Overall, a Athletic Trainers earning $67,706 in Riverside falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 109, Riverside is 9% more expensive than the national average, which compresses real purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Riverside continue to evolve.