Recreational Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Builds treatment plans from medical records, staff input, and what the patient can do and enjoys, then runs sessions using sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation. Programs take place in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar institutions; they can include trips and social activities aimed at recovery and getting back into community life. During sessions, participation and reactions are watched and written down, and the plan is changed if something is not working. The work also includes talking with the treatment team and helping patients find leisure they can keep up. Fits people who like leading group activities, noticing how someone responds in the moment, and coordinating with other clinicians.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$61'960
Median Wage Market Position
$61'960
What you might do
- Plan recreation programs that aid rehabilitation
- Lead sports, dance, music, or art sessions
- Assess needs from records, staff, and family
- Observe reactions and change activities as needed
- Organize community trips and social activities
- Counsel patients on building leisure habits
Skills that matter
- Instructing patients in sports and crafts
- Planning recreation that supports rehab
- Listening for interests, needs, and limits
- Recording participation and therapy progress
- Conferring with the treatment team
- Counseling patients on leisure activities
AI & the future of this role
Leading sports, crafts, and group activities depends on reading mood, motivating engagement, and adapting in the moment. Scheduling tools might ease documentation, but human rapport and supervised therapeutic presence remain hard to substitute.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details