Recreational therapists
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 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $60,280 in the US and is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.30 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include review music therapy treatment approaches, perform therapeutic musical repertoire, maintain healthcare user data confidentiality, provide health education, respond to incidents in music therapy sessions.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £42,079 a year for Other health professionals n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £34,346 to £49,077 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2259). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Recreational therapists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Administration and Management
- Medicine and Dentistry
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Recreational therapists do?
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 much does Recreational therapists earn?
The median annual salary for Recreational therapists in the US is $60,280.
What is the job outlook for Recreational therapists?
The role is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 16,100 workers.
How do I become recreational therapists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Recreational therapists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include review music therapy treatment approaches, perform therapeutic musical repertoire, maintain healthcare user data confidentiality, provide health education, respond to incidents in music therapy sessions, listen actively. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Recreational therapists?
Our AI-durability model gives Recreational therapists a score of 0.30 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Recreational therapists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.