Local Advocacy Elevating Compensation

South Carolina is showing what local advocacy can do for AT compensation

South Carolina is setting an example for the nation when it comes to advocating for athletic trainer compensation & it’s happening at the local level.

Recently, Aiken County Public Schools voted to raise the minimum salary for ATs by more than $9,000 paired with a lump sum $5,000 sign on bonus. The district had been struggling to fill several open AT positions; community members, administrators, and healthcare advocates stepped up to make the case for better pay.

This change wasn’t driven by a national initiative, it came from local advocacy, from people in the schools and community who recognized that ATs are healthcare providers, not just “sideline staff.”

Aiken County’s move shows what can happen when local stakeholders align around the same message: If we want to attract and retain qualified athletic trainers, we need to treat them like the healthcare professionals they are.

And that’s the lesson for other states:

Local and state advocacy drive results.

School boards and districts directly set pay scales, benefits, and staffing models.

State legislatures establish practice acts, employment standards, and healthcare classifications that impact long-term earning potential.

💥 National associations can guide, but it’s the local voices (parents, coaches, and ATs) who get decisions made.

Right now, the average AT salary in South Carolina hovers around $50,000–$56,000, which often lags behind other allied health professions with similar education and clinical responsibilities. When cost of living, travel, and secondary coverage duties are factored in, many ATs end up working unsustainable hours for wages that don’t match their expertise.

But as Aiken County just proved, change is possible when local decision-makers understand the real value of an AT.

The three schools that are currently without ATs use the services of Go4, an on-demand AT service that allows the schools to work with trainers as needed. However, district staff has previously expressed that this isn’t consistent enough to be truly beneficial to student athletes’ health and safety.

This kind of grassroots advocacy is what will move the profession forward - one school district, one community, & one state at a time.

Because at the end of the day, supporting ATs isn’t just a workforce issue. It’s a health and safety issue for every student-athlete who deserves the best care possible.