Recreational Therapists
Recreational therapists plan and lead medically-approved activities for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. These programs include sports, outings, drama, social events, and crafts designed to support patient recovery and well-being. Therapists assess patient conditions and recommend activities suited to individual needs.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against recreational therapists and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A recreational therapist's week involves scheduling and running various programs for patients. One day might include leading a crafts session in the morning, assessing a new patient's interests and abilities in the afternoon, and coordinating an outing or sports activity. Therapists also document patient participation and progress, communicate with medical staff about patient responses, and plan upcoming activities based on patient feedback and therapeutic goals.
Who this work suits
Holland code SIR. Social work is helping, teaching and working closely with people. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You are suited to this work if you enjoy solving problems through investigation and understanding how activities affect individual patients. You also gain satisfaction from direct social interaction and helping people improve their well-being through structured recreation.
What it takes
Preparation: Considerable preparation (most need a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience). Most people in this occupation hold a bachelor’s degree.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- Recreational Therapist · Veterans Health Administration · Memphis, Tennessee · $61722–$97087
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $79,820 | $98,170 | $107,830 | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $60,600 | $95,640 | $109,970 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $67,290 | $82,280 | $86,530 | 70 |
| Nevada | $56,640 | $78,730 | $82,100 | 400 |
| Washington | $65,940 | $77,860 | $92,930 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $65,160 | $76,360 | $84,200 | 250 |
| Colorado | $55,010 | $66,580 | $78,420 | 200 |
| Oregon | $62,770 | $66,530 | $70,320 | 250 |
| New York | $57,980 | $65,520 | $78,180 | 1,230 |
| Hawaii | $57,200 | $64,500 | $85,360 | 40 |
| Maryland | $45,420 | $64,300 | $77,600 | 290 |
| Vermont | $57,660 | $63,380 | $68,790 | 40 |
All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Certifications people in this field hold
- Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) — American Dance Therapy Association
- Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) — American Dance Therapy Association
- Registered Poetry Therapist (PTR) — International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy
- Music Therapist - Board Certified (MT-BC) — Certification Board for Music Therapists
- Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) — North American Drama Therapy Association
- Certified Poetry Therapist (CPT) — International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against recreational therapists and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 29-1125.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.