Athletic Trainers vs Licensed Practical Nurses
Median pay is about $2k higher for Licensed Practical Nurses. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Athletic Trainers and postsecondary cert for Licensed Practical Nurses.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Athletic Trainers | Licensed Practical Nurses |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $62,520 | $64,400, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $55,130 | $59,000, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $74,630 | $76,030, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +13% Growing fast, higher | +3.0% Growing |
| Openings a year | 2,400 | 51,800 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Postsecondary cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.6 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 22nd pct | 6th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.