Recreational Therapists: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
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The Daily Work of Recreational Therapists Take On?
The core tasks performed by recreational therapists span:
- Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
- Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
- Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
- Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
What Recreational Therapists Need to Know
Effective recreational therapists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Recreational Therapists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Activities Coordinator
- Activities Therapist
- Activity Therapist
- Adventure Therapist
- Certified Recreational Therapist
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
- Creative Arts Therapist
- Dance Therapist
Job Outlook
There are about 2,485,050 recreational therapists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +3.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Recreational Therapists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $150,116 |
| Hourly median | $72.17 |
| 10th percentile | $82,633 |
| 25th percentile | $116,374 |
| 75th percentile | $183,857 |
| 90th percentile | $217,598 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Recreational Therapists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $96,530 |
| District of Columbia | $92,010 |
| Washington | $78,620 |
| Nevada | $77,450 |
| New Hampshire | $74,780 |
| Minnesota | $67,300 |
| New Jersey | $64,880 |
| Oregon | $64,000 |
| Illinois | $63,610 |
| New York | $63,520 |
| Michigan | $63,200 |
| Colorado | $62,630 |
| Arizona | $61,110 |
| Wyoming | $61,080 |
| Connecticut | $61,030 |
| Ohio | $60,210 |
| Maryland | $58,390 |
| North Dakota | $57,960 |
| Massachusetts | $57,540 |
| Virginia | $57,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,690 |
| Florida | $56,220 |
| Nebraska | $55,910 |
| Wisconsin | $55,010 |
| Maine | $54,500 |
| Texas | $54,190 |
| Kentucky | $54,030 |
| Missouri | $53,620 |
| Alabama | $52,050 |
| Indiana | $51,930 |
| Montana | $51,490 |
| Utah | $51,490 |
| Idaho | $50,960 |
| Iowa | $50,520 |
| Tennessee | $50,510 |
| Georgia | $50,010 |
| South Carolina | $49,170 |
| North Carolina | $48,590 |
| New Mexico | $47,880 |
| Louisiana | $47,350 |
| Oklahoma | $46,920 |
| Arkansas | $45,060 |
| West Virginia | $44,900 |
| Delaware | $42,310 |
| Kansas | $39,690 |
| Mississippi | $38,170 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,040 |
Where Recreational Therapists Earn the Most
Pay for recreational therapists differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $89,129 | 17.9% | 1.27 |
| New England | $61,739 | 5.3% | 1.51 |
| Middle Atlantic | $61,391 | 19.6% | 1.28 |
| Great Lakes | $59,194 | 11.5% | 0.94 |
| Southwest | $54,054 | 9.2% | 0.73 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,061 | 2.9% | 1.34 |
| Southeast | $51,554 | 21.3% | 0.95 |
| Plains States | $49,601 | 11.5% | 2.89 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Recreational Therapists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $102,640 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $102,640 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $100,820 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $100,360 | 150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $96,530 | 310 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $93,640 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $93,550 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $88,610 | 90 |
Which Industries Hire Recreational Therapists
Most recreational therapists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,700 | $57,250 |
| Educational Services | 240 | $65,530 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 60 | $51,010 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 40 | $128,380 |
Below are examples of industries where recreational therapists work:
Software Recreational Therapists Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for recreational therapists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
Most recreational therapists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Supplemental)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Occupational Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Physical Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Art Therapists (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Students preparing for recreational therapists typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1125.00 (Recreational Therapists).
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