Jobs Similar to Recreational Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to recreational therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Healthcare Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Psychiatric Technicians.
Recreational Therapists: $61,960 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Recreational Therapists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare Social Workers | 83% | $67,880+10% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Occupational TherapistsSame group | 83% | $100,330+62% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Psychiatric Technicians | 83% | $45,130−27% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 82% | $60,280−3% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 82% | $64,830+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation TherapistsSame group | 81% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 81% | $59,550−4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Psychiatric Aides | 80% | $44,910−28% | High school |
| 9 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 80% | $38,140−38% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Physical TherapistsSame group | 80% | $102,760+66% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Rehabilitation Counselors | 80% | $46,850−24% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 80% | $72,300+17% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Marriage and Family Therapists | 80% | $66,940+8% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 79% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 79% | $74,260+20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $80,250+30% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Midwives | 79% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 79% | $134,040+116% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Community Health Workers | 79% | $51,850−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 78% | $100,580+62% | Graduate degree |
- 1Healthcare Social Workers
83% similar · $67,880 (+10%) · Graduate degree
- 2Occupational Therapists
83% similar · $100,330 (+62%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Psychiatric Technicians
83% similar · $45,130 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 4Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
82% similar · $60,280 (−3%) · Graduate degree
- 5Special Education Teachers, Preschool
82% similar · $64,830 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
81% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Child, Family, and School Social Workers
81% similar · $59,550 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Psychiatric Aides
80% similar · $44,910 (−28%) · High school
- 9Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
80% similar · $38,140 (−38%) · Training or associate
- 10Physical Therapists
80% similar · $102,760 (+66%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Rehabilitation Counselors
80% similar · $46,850 (−24%) · Graduate degree
- 12Occupational Therapy Assistants
80% similar · $72,300 (+17%) · Training or associate
- 13Marriage and Family Therapists
80% similar · $66,940 (+8%) · Graduate degree
- 14Adapted Physical Education Specialists
79% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
79% similar · $74,260 (+20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $80,250 (+30%) · Graduate degree
- 17Midwives
79% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18Nurse Midwives
79% similar · $134,040 (+116%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Community Health Workers
79% similar · $51,850 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
78% similar · $100,580 (+62%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than recreational therapists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for recreational therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where recreational therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (85)
- Psychiatric Technicians (85)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (84)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (84)
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists (83)
- Athletic Trainers (83)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (83)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool (82)
- Social and Human Service Assistants (81)
- Healthcare Social Workers (80)
Questions about jobs like recreational therapists
What jobs are most similar to recreational therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Healthcare Social Workers (83% similar), Occupational Therapists (83% similar), Psychiatric Technicians (83% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (82% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (82% similar).
Which jobs like recreational therapists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +116%; usually a graduate degree), Physical Therapists ($102,760, +66%; usually a graduate degree) and Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +62%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with recreational therapists ($61,960). Without more preparation than recreational therapists usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Occupational Therapy Assistants and Special Education Teachers (Preschool).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.