Well, I’ll tell ya, figuring out how much them NBA fellas who keep the players healthy make ain’t so easy. It’s like tryin’ to count chickens in a dust storm, ya know? But from what I hear, it ain’t chicken feed, that’s for sure.
Them NBA trainers, they ain’t just slappin’ on bandages, no sir. They gotta know all sorts of stuff about muscles and bones and how to keep them basketball stars runnin’ and jumpin’. It’s a big job, keepin’ all them million-dollar legs and arms in tip-top shape. So, you’d figure they get paid pretty good, right?

Now, I heard tell that some trainers, the ones just startin’ out maybe, they might make around $46,000 or $50,000 a year. That sounds like a lot of money, but in the NBA world, where them players are makin’ millions, it ain’t all that much. But then again, that’s just the startin’ point, like I said.
See, the more you know, the more you been doin’ it, the more you gonna make. Them fellas with years of experience, the ones who know all the tricks of the trade, they can be makin’ a whole lot more. I heard some of them top trainers are pullin’ in over $80,000, maybe even close to $100,000 a year. That’s more like it, ain’t it?
- Some trainers just starting out might make around $46,000 or $50,000 a year.
- Experienced trainers can make over $80,000, maybe close to $100,000.
But it ain’t just about how long you been doin’ it. It also depends on which team you work for. Some of them big-city teams, the ones with all the fancy players, they might pay their trainers more. And then there’s the head trainers, the fellas in charge, they’re gonna be makin’ the most. I heard tell one of them head trainers over at the Lakers, he was makin’ around $62,000 a year. That ain’t bad, but I bet some of them other head trainers are makin’ even more.
Now, the average, from what I can gather, seems to be somewhere in the middle. Folks are sayin’ most NBA trainers are makin’ somewhere between $55,000 and $64,000 a year. That’s a decent livin’, I reckon. But remember, that’s just an average. Some make less, some make more. It’s all a bit of a guessing game, really.
And don’t forget, them trainers ain’t just workin’ on game day. They’re there at practice, they’re travelin’ with the team, they’re always on call. It’s a tough job, no doubt about it. Long hours, lots of pressure, gotta be ready for anything. So, whatever they’re makin’, they’re earnin’ it, that’s for sure.

So, if you’re thinkin’ about becomin’ an NBA trainer, don’t expect to get rich overnight. But if you’re good at what you do, and you stick with it, you can make a decent livin’. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be one of them top trainers makin’ the big bucks. Just remember, it ain’t all about the money. You gotta love the game, and you gotta care about them players. That’s the real key, I reckon.
Anyways, that’s what I’ve heard tell about how much them NBA trainers make. It ain’t a straight answer, but nothin’ ever is, is it? Life’s complicated, and so is the NBA, I guess. But one thing’s for sure: them trainers are important, and they deserve to be paid well for keepin’ them players healthy and on the court.
Tags: [NBA, Athletic Trainers, Salary, Basketball, Sports Medicine, NBA Salary, Trainer Pay, Team Trainer, Professional Sports]