Recreational Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1125 · O*NET 29-1125.00
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.
Recreational Therapists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Recreational Therapists earn a median salary of $60,280 per year, ranking in the top 48% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do recreational therapists earn?
The median annual wage for recreational therapists is $60,280. That puts recreational therapists at #389 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $39,520 |
| 25th percentile | $48,230 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,280 |
| 75th percentile | $77,680 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,600 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.98/hr |
Is recreational therapists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for recreational therapists is +3.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 16K positions in 2024 to 16K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do recreational therapists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working recreational therapists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.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.
- 2.Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
- 3.Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
- 4.Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- 5.Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- 6.Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- 7.Develop discharge plans for patients.
- 8.Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
Top skills for recreational therapists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become recreational therapist?
Becoming a recreational therapist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Licensing requirements for recreational therapists
Recreational Therapists are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about recreational therapists
What is the median salary for recreational therapists?
The median annual salary for recreational therapists is $60,280 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is recreational therapists a growing career?
BLS projects +3.3% growth for recreational therapists from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become recreational therapist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to recreational therapists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.