Recreational Therapists
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.
Also called: Activities Coordinator, Activities Therapist, Activity Therapist, Adventure Therapist, Certified Recreational Therapist, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
Median pay
$61,960
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$40,990 – $100,420
People employed
14,930
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Recreational Therapists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What recreational therapists do
- 01Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- 02Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- 03Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
- 04Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- 05Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
- 06Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from recreational therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants87% · +17%
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool82% · +5%
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers81% · −3%
- Physical Therapist Assistants81% · +10%
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers81% · −4%
Change into recreational therapists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers85% · $59,550
- Psychiatric Technicians85% · $45,130
- Marriage and Family Therapists84% · $66,940
- Rehabilitation Counselors84% · $46,850
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists83% · $76,580
Majors that lead here
- Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.