by Hannah Zugec MS, LAT, ATC

6 years into my athletic training career working in the secondary school setting, I started to question staying in the profession full time and started searching for a career pivot.

The decision didn’t come lightly or quickly. I spoke with many other athletic trainers about moving on from a full-time athletic training role. It brought up a lot of big questions. 

“After all that work I’m just going to move on?”

“This doesn’t fit anymore.”

“Will I miss using my skills if I take a “lesser” role?”

“But I still like what I do…” 

I still loved being an Athletic Trainer and didn’t want to leave the profession, but ultimately I needed more work life balance.

For me, per diem athletic training was the answer.

I transitioned from my full-time secondary school position into a per diem role with a health network and supplemented that with opportunities as an individual contractor.

For the individual opportunities, I utilized companies—like Go4—who connected athletic trainers with per diem gigs and through my personal network of peers and co-workers.

Reflecting back this past year working per diem full-time, here are a few insights:

Making the switch- why?

A life change. One might decide to make the switch due to a life change or stepping into a new season of life (becoming a parent, relocating due to a spouse’s job, health status, etc). Juggling life as an athletic trainer and life as a parent was the biggest driver in making a career change.

Many athletic trainers who became parents—like myself—pursued per diem athletic training to provide balance while still being able to work in the profession that they are passionate about.

Financial opportunity. Often per diem shifts pay an hourly wage or flat rate that is competitive and speaks to the worth and value of an Athletic Trainer.

Schedule Flexibility. The beauty of per diem- no set schedule. Say goodbye to the six day grind, working on holidays, missing out on family events. 

Like anything, per diem has its pros and cons. 

Pros

  • Schedule flexibility
  • Variety of work environments
  • Higher pay rate 
  • Networking opportunities 
  • Less administrative duties
  • Freedom to pursue other interests

Cons

  • Lack of stability- ebbs and flows on the need for coverage, irregular hours
  • Typically no benefits offered
  • Travel demands can vary
  • Personal cost- personal liability insurance, supplies (dependent on position) 
  • Sorting out the specifics for each job/coverage opportunity
    • Independent contractor vs employed vs self owned business 
    • The differences in each of these has an impact on taxes/write offs, benefits, supplies, equipment provided/set up, expectations of ATC, standing orders, etc

Per Diem Opportunities– what can they look like? 

  • Per diem role aka casual position with an employer continuing as a W-2 employee
    • > Least amount of changes in regards to how one is paid, taxes
  • 1099 individual contractor (think individual day event work or weekend tournament)
    • > The amount of income earned impacts taxes, individual responsible for navigating setting funds aside in regards to taxes whether managing it themselves or working with a professional

  • Creating your own personal business (LLC, DBA)
    • Doing Business As (DBA) is a registered name that allows a business to operate under a name other than its legal name
      • Low cost, no tax benefits, no limited liability, name registration
    • Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a business structure that offers limited liability protection
      • Higher cost, tax flexibility, credibility, limited liability, best for businesses with moderate to high risk, separate entity 

Making a change in your career will certainly have an impact on your life. How is unique to each individual. For me, the day I formally changed from full-time to per diem, I felt lighter. It wasn’t until then that I truly realized how the weight of work was impacting me personally. My family and I found the balance we were seeking. I once again enjoy working as an athletic trainer. Not to mention, the transition has opened up more freedom to pursue other interests and opportunities.

A pivot to per diem and a career transition doesn’t have to be an all or nothing. Per diem athletic training is a testament to that and might just help you find the space in your life that you’re seeking.

See also, 7 Tax Tips for Per Diem Athletic Trainers.