Athletic Training
Chris Shenberger spends long hours on the job nursing injuries and teaching classes, but working in athletics is worth a lower salary.
Median starting pay: $32,800
Median mid-career pay: $45,700
For the number of hours athletic trainers dedicate to working with athletes, the compensation doesn't always measure up.
Chris Shenberger received a degree in athletic training at Capital University and is now working 60 to 70 hours a week nursing injuries, teaching classes and handling insurance claims as the head athletic trainer at Case Western Reserve University.
"In terms of the amount of time I put in, it's definitely low-paying, and I make significantly less money than a good portion of head coaches," he said. "But I'd rather get paid less money and be here until 10 p.m. because I like being around athletics a lot more than I would like sitting at a desk somewhere, even if it would bring me more money."
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Last updated January 14 2011: 2:40 PM ET
Source: PayScale.com
How PayScale.com determined salary: Survey includes national median starting and mid-career salary for 120 popular bachelor degree majors. Salaries are for graduates who received bachelor's degrees from schools in the United States who work full time in the United States.
How PayScale.com determined salary: Survey includes national median starting and mid-career salary for 120 popular bachelor degree majors. Salaries are for graduates who received bachelor's degrees from schools in the United States who work full time in the United States.
