Recreational Therapists Career, Salary and Skills
Recreational Therapists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $61,960 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 14,930. Wage data is published for 132 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
29-1125.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$61,960
Hourly median
$29.79
Employment
14,930
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Coordination | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Instructing | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.50 | 3.50 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
- Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Technology
- Avid Technology Sibelius
- Email software
- Hyperscore
- MakeMusic Finale
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
- Patient electronic medical record EMR software
- Speech recognition software
- Steinberg Cubase Pro
- Web browser software
Recreational Therapists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Recreational Therapists Salary in CAMedian $98,170 · Employment 1,920
- Recreational Therapists Salary in NYMedian $65,520 · Employment 1,230
- Recreational Therapists Salary in New York, NYMedian $66,050 · Employment 1,090
- Recreational Therapists Salary in TXMedian $62,490 · Employment 800
- Recreational Therapists Salary in PAMedian $58,940 · Employment 720
- Recreational Therapists Salary in KSMedian $40,010 · Employment 710
- Recreational Therapists Salary in FLMedian $57,980 · Employment 640
- Recreational Therapists Salary in MIMedian $61,700 · Employment 590
- Recreational Therapists Salary in VAMedian $61,270 · Employment 570
- Recreational Therapists Salary in GAMedian $52,010 · Employment 530
- Recreational Therapists Salary in ILMedian $54,910 · Employment 440
- Recreational Therapists Salary in NCMedian $51,030 · Employment 440
Related careers
- Massage TherapistsNational median $58,450
- Clinical Nurse SpecialistsNational median $97,550
- Marriage and Family TherapistsNational median $66,940
- PsychiatristsNational median $281,870
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesNational median $97,550
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
- Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsNational median $100,580
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersNational median $60,280
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.