Recreational Therapists
Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions.
About the profession
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.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Recreational Therapists fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path →Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path →Personality Fit
Based on the Recreational Therapists role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Investigative
Research, analysis, problem-solving
Conventional
Organizing, detail-oriented, structured
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (12-15 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Junior Recreational Therapist → Associate Recreational Therapist → Senior Recreational Therapist → Lead Recreational Therapist
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
92K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $37,960 - $51,490/year With equity/bonuses: $41,756 - $61,788 Top markets (SF/NYC): $43,654 - $61,788 Execute core tasks using Service…
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior, daily schedule breakdown
9am, Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $26,572 - $46,341 Year 2-3: Junior level $51,490 - $61,769 Year 4-6: Mid level $61,769 - $66,971 Year 7-10: Senior level $66,971 - $82,478 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions, answer honestly
You find the craft of a Recreational Therapist genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Service Orientation and Active Listening You communicate clearly…
💰 Salary Range
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types