Sports Medicine Physicians
SOC code 29-1229 · O*NET-SOC 29-1229.06 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Sports Medicine Physicians pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$265,930
a year
Hourly
$127.85
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$262,040
$125.98 per hour
Middle 50%
$102,930 – $378,770
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$69,170 – $452,360
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
342,720
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Physicians, All Other”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $69,170
- $33.26/hr
- 25th percentile
- $102,930
- $49.48/hr
- Median percentile
- $265,930
- $127.85/hr
- 75th percentile
- $378,770
- $182.10/hr
- 90th percentile
- $452,360
- $217.48/hr
What does a sports medicine physician do?
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Order and interpret the results of laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging procedures.
- Record athletes' medical histories, and perform physical examinations.
- Refer athletes for specialized consultation, physical therapy, or diagnostic testing.
- Provide education and counseling on illness and injury prevention.
- Advise against injured athletes returning to games or competition if resuming activity could lead to further injury.
- Examine, evaluate and treat athletes who have been injured or who have medical problems such as exercise-induced asthma.
- Record athletes' medical care information, and maintain medical records.
How to become a sports medicine physician
Most people in this role hold doctoral degree — 51% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Doctoral Degree51%
- Post-Doctoral Training49%
Common questions
How much does a sports medicine physician earn?
The national median is $265,930 a year. The full range runs from $69,170 at the 10th percentile to $452,360 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a sports medicine physician without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.6/5
- Critical Thinking4.3/5
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Speaking4.1/5
- Active Learning4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.9/5
- Biology4.3/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.2/5
- Psychology4.1/5
- Education and Training4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving.