Sports Medicine Physicians

29-1229.06 Zone 5 — Extensive Preparation Needed

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.

Also known as: Athletic Team Physician, Industrial Sports Medicine Professional, Industrial Sports Medicine Specialist, Nonsurgical Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, Orthopedic Team Physician, Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist, Physician, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, ...

Annual Salary

$208,000+

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$95,080 25th – 75th percentile $208K+
10th percentile $66,860
90th percentile $208,000+
U.S. Employment: 315,360

Job Outlook

+2.5%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (About average)

Annual Job Openings 9,600 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Doctoral or professional degree
On-the-job training: Internship/residency

What You'd Do

  • Select and prepare medical equipment or medications to be taken to athletic competition sites.
  • Provide coaches and therapists with assistance in selecting and fitting protective equipment.
  • Advise against injured athletes returning to games or competition if resuming activity could lead to further injury.
  • Observe and evaluate athletes' mental well-being.
  • Participate in continuing education activities to improve and maintain knowledge and skills.
  • Develop and prescribe exercise programs, such as off-season conditioning regimens.
  • Conduct research in the prevention or treatment of injuries or medical conditions related to sports and exercise.
  • Advise athletes, trainers, or coaches to alter or cease sports practices that are potentially harmful.
  • Attend games and competitions to provide evaluation and treatment of activity-related injuries or medical conditions.
  • Record athletes' medical histories, and perform physical examinations.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.5
Active Listening 4.4
Critical Thinking 4.3
Judgment and Decision Making 4.1
Monitoring 4.1
Speaking 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.9
Active Learning 3.9

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Medicine and Dentistry 5.0
Biology 4.1
English Language 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.5
Administration and Management 3.4
Education and Training 3.3
Psychology 2.9
Chemistry 2.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Doctoral
51%
Post-Doctoral
49.1%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

eClinicalWorks EHR software Epic Systems Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word

Other Tools

3D motion analysis software Allscripts PM athenahealth athenaCollector Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR CareCloud Central Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management Email software Epic Practice Management GalacTek ECLIPSE GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE HealthFusion MediTouch IOS Health Systems Medios EHR +10 more

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.7
Attention to Detail
2.7
Dependability
2.4
Stress Tolerance
2.3
Integrity
2.3
Cooperation
2.3
Self-Control
2.2
Empathy

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.5
Problem Sensitivity 4.5
Written Comprehension 4.4
Oral Expression 4.4
Inductive Reasoning 4.3
Written Expression 4.1
Deductive Reasoning 4.1
Speech Clarity 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Assisting and Caring for Others 5.0
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.9
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.7
Getting Information 4.7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.5
Analyzing Data or Information 4.5
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings 4.4
Documenting/Recording Information 4.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
5.0
Physical Proximity
5.0
Freedom to Make Decisions
5.0
Frequency of Decision Making
5.0
Contact With Others
5.0
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
5.0
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.9
Telephone Conversations
4.9
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
4.8
Exposed to Disease or Infections
4.8
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.7
E-Mail
4.7

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.