GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Athletic Trainers
Best States to Be a Athletic Trainers
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a athletic trainers salary goes furthest in New Mexico — a $72,440 BLS median worth $76,074 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 121.8).
Which US states are best for a athletic trainers after cost of living and tax?
For a athletic trainers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks New Mexico #1: a $72,440 BLS median becomes $76,074 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 121.8). Alabama ranks last ($50,503, index 80.8). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
New Mexico ranks #1 of 50 states for a athletic trainers. Index 100 = the average state; 121.8 means pay goes 21.8% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedAthletic Trainers — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $72,440 | $2,291 | 92.2 | $76,074 | 121.8 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $62,760 | $1,508 | 88.2 | $69,441 | 111.1 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $60,900 | — | 89.0 | $68,459 | 109.6 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $63,190 | — | 92.7 | $68,173 | 109.1 |
| 5 | California | $78,490 | $3,178 | 110.7 | $68,020 | 108.9 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $76,210 | $2,665 | 108.8 | $67,594 | 108.2 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $61,320 | $2,375 | 87.8 | $67,103 | 107.4 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $58,620 | — | 88.6 | $66,173 | 105.9 |
| 9 | Texas | $64,150 | — | 97.1 | $66,095 | 105.8 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $76,320 | $4,270 | 110.0 | $65,529 | 104.9 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $61,020 | $2,077 | 90.1 | $65,417 | 104.7 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $69,960 | $2,273 | 103.6 | $65,329 | 104.6 |
| 13 | Indiana | $62,780 | $1,853 | 93.3 | $65,282 | 104.5 |
| 14 | Ohio | $61,420 | $907 | 92.8 | $65,227 | 104.4 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $59,850 | — | 91.9 | $65,146 | 104.3 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $58,180 | $1,755 | 87.0 | $64,892 | 103.9 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $60,680 | $2,296 | 90.2 | $64,756 | 103.6 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $74,450 | $3,464 | 109.9 | $64,591 | 103.4 |
| 19 | Georgia | $64,590 | $2,835 | 96.3 | $64,133 | 102.6 |
| 20 | Utah | $65,980 | $3,002 | 98.9 | $63,702 | 102.0 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $57,240 | $2,024 | 86.9 | $63,513 | 101.7 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $61,820 | $2,124 | 94.1 | $63,442 | 101.5 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $65,390 | $2,958 | 98.6 | $63,305 | 101.3 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $70,010 | $3,281 | 105.8 | $63,097 | 101.0 |
| 25 | Kansas | $59,140 | $2,500 | 90.1 | $62,885 | 100.6 |
| 26 | Missouri | $58,660 | $1,876 | 90.8 | $62,526 | 100.1 |
| 27 | Vermont | $62,910 | $1,770 | 98.0 | $62,414 | 99.9 |
| 28 | Illinois | $64,750 | $3,064 | 100.0 | $61,712 | 98.8 |
| 29 | Maine | $61,970 | $2,568 | 97.0 | $61,207 | 98.0 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $59,240 | $2,066 | 93.7 | $60,987 | 97.6 |
| 31 | Montana | $60,090 | $2,407 | 94.6 | $60,947 | 97.5 |
| 32 | Idaho | $60,410 | $2,320 | 95.5 | $60,831 | 97.4 |
| 33 | Iowa | $55,430 | $2,066 | 87.8 | $60,805 | 97.3 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $61,060 | $1,875 | 97.6 | $60,658 | 97.1 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $63,750 | $1,791 | 102.3 | $60,578 | 97.0 |
| 36 | Colorado | $64,580 | $2,182 | 103.1 | $60,550 | 96.9 |
| 37 | Arizona | $61,710 | $1,068 | 100.7 | $60,234 | 96.4 |
| 38 | Nevada | $59,820 | — | 100.0 | $59,833 | 95.8 |
| 39 | Washington | $63,750 | — | 107.0 | $59,572 | 95.3 |
| 40 | Florida | $61,350 | — | 103.4 | $59,325 | 94.9 |
| 41 | Michigan | $59,280 | $2,273 | 96.2 | $59,248 | 94.8 |
| 42 | New York | $66,230 | $3,038 | 107.9 | $58,554 | 93.7 |
| 43 | Virginia | $61,860 | $2,757 | 101.1 | $58,457 | 93.6 |
| 44 | Maryland | $63,970 | $2,706 | 105.0 | $58,370 | 93.4 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $56,540 | $1,861 | 94.3 | $57,968 | 92.8 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $60,200 | — | 104.2 | $57,793 | 92.5 |
| 47 | Delaware | $59,650 | $2,634 | 99.8 | $57,126 | 91.4 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $50,510 | $1,543 | 89.5 | $54,713 | 87.6 |
| 49 | Oregon | $57,790 | $4,253 | 103.4 | $51,796 | 82.9 |
| 50 | Alabama | $46,940 | $2,082 | 88.8 | $50,503 | 80.8 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In New Mexico, a $72,440 salary is worth about $73,923 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $4,274 (≈ top marginal 5.90% (upper bound)) · take-home $68,166 · BEA cost of living 92.2 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $81,774, a $7,850 gain over New Mexico.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $81,774 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $80,075 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $79,661 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $79,644 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $79,405 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $79,395 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $78,851 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $78,548 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $78,152 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $77,478 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $77,133 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $77,040 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Athletic Trainers — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a athletic trainers?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, New Mexico is the best state for a athletic trainers: a BLS median of $72,440 is worth $76,074 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,291) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.2), an index of 121.8 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a athletic trainers at $78,490, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #5 of 50 on real pay (index 108.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a athletic trainers salary go least far?
- Alabama ranks last of 50 states for a athletic trainers: a $46,940 BLS median is worth only $50,503 after tax and cost of living (index 80.8). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a athletic trainers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.