Occupational Therapist
Median wage · national
$100,330
Range: $83K – $117K
Employed
162K
Openings/yr
10K
Typically: master's degree
HEALTH
Recreational Therapists
Recreational Therapists earn $61,960 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $50,240 and $79,930. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About 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.
- Median Wage
- $61,960
- Employed Nationally
- 15K
- Openings / Year
- 1,300
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Activities Coordinator
Activities Therapist
Activity Therapist
Adventure Therapist
Certified Recreational Therapist
How Much Do Recreational Therapists Make?
Recreational Therapists earn $61,960 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,240 and $79,930. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$61,960
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$50K–$80K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$50,240
Entry-level
$61,960
Median
$79,930
Experienced
What Do Recreational Therapists Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Recreational Therapists roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Service Orientation
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Recreational Therapists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Recreational Therapists?
The BLS projects +3.3% employment change for Recreational Therapists through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 1,300 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.3%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
1,300
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
15K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Recreational Therapists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $61,960 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,780 | $96,530 | +55.8% |
| 2 | New York | 1,310 | $63,520 | +2.5% |
| 3 | Texas | 1,030 | $54,190 | -12.5% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 750 | $56,690 | -8.5% |
| 5 | Kansas | 710 | $39,690 | -35.9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Recreational Therapists positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rehabilitation | 29,934 | $55,792 | 609 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Recreational Therapists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 3 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL | 90 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | 90 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| 6 | Florida International University Miami, FL | 90 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Recreational Therapists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Recreational Therapists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Recreational Therapists Pros & Cons
The data on Recreational Therapists shows 1 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $61,960 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $61,960 median while building the experience employers require.
Recreational Therapists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Recreational Therapists professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Recreational Therapists is $61,960, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,240 and $79,930. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Recreational Therapists a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $61,960 median, with +3.3% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Recreational Therapists?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Rehabilitation are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $61,960 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Recreational Therapists?
The BLS projects +3.3% employment change for Recreational Therapists through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 1,300 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 15K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Recreational Therapists professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Recreational Therapists roles: Service Orientation, Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, and Coordination. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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