29-1125

Recreational Therapists

Role 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. Excludes “Recreation Workers” (39-9032).

Recommended Majors

Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy.

Related Careers

Acupuncturists Anesthesiologists Athletic Trainers Audiologists Audiologists Cardiologists

Salary by State (top paying)

State	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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$60,280

Projected Growth (10yr)

+3.3%

Avg. annual openings

1.3k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.