### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recreational Therapists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			recreational therapists image							
						Quick Facts:     Recreational Therapists2023     Median Pay
            						$57,120     per year
										$27.46     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    16,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    600What Recreational Therapists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Recreational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Recreational Therapist
                                                
                        
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Many employers require them to be certified.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $57,120 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of recreational therapists is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 1,300 openings for recreational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for recreational therapists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of recreational therapists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about recreational therapists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Recreational Therapists Do 
            

			recreational therapists imageRecreational therapists engage patients in therapeutic activities, such as swimming.			
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs to help maintain or improve patients’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. These therapists use a variety of techniques, including art expression; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings.
Duties
Recreational therapists typically do the following:
Assess patients’ needs through observation, medical records, tests, and discussions with other healthcare workers and patients and their families
Develop and implement treatment plans that meet patients’ goals and interests
Engage patients in therapeutic activities, such as exercise, games, and community outings
Help patients learn social skills needed to become or remain independent
Help patients to reduce and cope with stress, anxiety, or depression
Document and analyze a patient’s progress to ensure that their goals are met and to modify treatment as neededRecreational therapists use recreation-based medical treatment to help people reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic physical and mental abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively.
Recreational therapists are trained to use interventions to help patients of all ages. For example, they may help people with physical disabilities by teaching them adaptive sports. Therapists also may inform people about how to use community resources and participate in recreational activities.
These therapists also help people improve their mental health. They may provide interventions to help patients develop social and coping skills for managing their depression or anxiety.
Therapists may work with physicians or surgeons, registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers, or occupational therapists. Recreational therapists are different from recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment.
 Work Environment
			Recreational therapistsTherapy may be provided in a clinical setting or out in a community.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Recreational therapists held about 16,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of recreational therapists were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                40%Nursing and residential care facilities
                27Government
                20Ambulatory healthcare services
                6Social assistance
                5Recreational therapists work in an office setting for planning or other administrative activities, such as patient assessment, but they also may travel when working with patients. Therapy may be provided in a clinical or community setting. For example, therapists may take their patients to recreation centers or parks for sports and other activities.
Some therapists spend a lot of time standing when actively working with patients. They also may need to physically assist patients or lift heavy objects, such as wheelchairs.
Work Schedules
Most recreational therapists work full time. Some recreational therapists work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of their patients.
 How to Become a Recreational Therapist

			Recreational therapistsMost recreational therapists need a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy or a related field.			
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers may require or prefer therapists to be certified.
Education
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare field, such as recreational therapy, or in recreation and fitness.
Recreational therapy programs include courses in physiology, human anatomy, and psychology. Bachelor’s degree programs usually include an internship.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Employers may require or prefer recreational therapists to be certified. The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) offers the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential. Candidates may qualify for certification in more than one way. For example, one option requires a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy, completing a supervised internship, and passing an exam. Another option also requires passing an exam but allows candidates with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject to qualify with a combination of education and work experience. In order to maintain certification, therapists must either pass an exam or complete work experience and continuing education requirements after a specified number of years.
The NCTRC also offers certification in specialization area designations, including adaptive sports and recreation, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities. Therapists also may earn certificates from other organizations to show proficiency in specific therapy techniques, such as aquatic therapy or aromatherapy.
A small number of states require recreational therapists to be licensed or certified. For specific requirements, contact a state’s licensing board.
Some employers prefer to hire recreational therapists who have basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Recreational therapists need to give clear instructions during activities or for healthy coping techniques. They also must write clearly in documenting patient progress.
***Compassion.*** Recreational therapists may deal with people who are in pain, so they should be empathetic when providing support to patients and their families.
***Leadership skills.*** Recreational therapists must be engaging and able to motivate patients to participate in a variety of therapeutic activities.
***Listening skills.*** Recreational therapists must pay attention to patients’ concerns in order to determine an appropriate course of treatment.
***Patience.*** Recreational therapists may work with patients who require more time and special attention than do others.
***Resourcefulness.***Recreational therapists must be both creative and flexible when customizing treatment plans and adapting activities or programs to meet patients' needs.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Recreational TherapistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners$98,760  Recreational therapists$57,120  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $57,120 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,080.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for recreational therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $72,860Hospitals; state, local, and private
                60,220Ambulatory healthcare services
                52,540Social assistance
                49,750Nursing and residential care facilities
                47,480Most recreational therapists work full time. Some recreational therapists work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of their patients.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Recreational TherapistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners9%  Recreational therapists4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of recreational therapists is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 1,300 openings for recreational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for recreational therapists is expected to increase in some industries. For example, psychiatric facilities use recreational therapy as a key component of treatment for people struggling with mental illness or addiction. Recreational therapists will be needed to help these patients regain their physical and mental health and to support them in their recovery.
In addition, as large numbers of the U.S. population move into older age groups, more people will need recreational therapists to help them maintain and improve their functional abilities. Therapists also will be needed to help healthy seniors remain social, active, and independent in their communities as they age. However, funding challenges around the provision of recreational therapy services in some settings, such as nursing homes, may dampen demand for the occupation.
			

                        Employment projections data for     recreational therapists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Recreational therapists**
			29-1125
			16,800
			17,400
			4
			600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Recreational therapists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of recreational therapists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Occupational Therapists**
            Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.
            Master's degree
            $96,370**Physical Therapists**
            Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $99,710**Rehabilitation Counselors**
            Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.
            Master's degree
            $44,040**School and Career Counselors and Advisors**
            School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
            Master's degree
            $61,710**Speech-Language Pathologists**
            Speech-language pathologists assess and treat people who have communication disorders.
            Master's degree
            $89,290**Special Education Teachers**
            Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,910**Athletic Trainers**
            Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.
            Master's degree
            $57,930**Exercise Physiologists**
            Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs to help people improve their health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $54,860**Social Workers**
            Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
            See How to Become One
            $58,380
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on careers and academic programs in recreational therapy, visit
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
For more information about certification, visit
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
CareerOneStop
For a career video on recreational therapists, visit
Recreational Therapists

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Recreational Therapists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Recreational Therapists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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