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Also known as: Activities Coordinator, Activities Therapist, Activity Therapist, Adventure Therapist
You arrive at the bustling Willow Creek Rehabilitation Hospital, coffee in hand, the smell of disinfectant faint. Your first stop is the shared office, where you boot up your computer and log into `Epic`, the electronic medical record system. You quickly review your caseload for the day, noting a new admission and checking progress notes for returning patients. Today's schedule includes a group art therapy session and several individual appointments. You grab your clipboard and head to the supply closet to gather paints and brushes.
Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.
O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.
+4.8%
US average: +3.5%
1,400
per year (US)
15,600
in 2025 → 16,300 (2035)
Bachelor's degree
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.
Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)
This career is projected to grow steadily, with about 1,400 job openings each year through 2035 and a bright outlook. The median annual wage for Recreational Therapists is around $61,960. You can advance by gaining experience or specializing in certain areas of therapeutic recreation.
Career ladder
Often before this role
Where it can lead
$61,960
Median annual wage, BLS 2025
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum educational requirement for this position
Based on job level & field
Art Therapy/Therapist
Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years
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Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years
Kinesiology
Bachelor • Sports & Fitness • 4 years