Recreational Therapists

Health Science In demand
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.

What a recreational therapist does

Become a recreational therapist

If you enjoy doing these activities, you might make a good recreational therapist

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  • Talking to others.
  • Looking for ways to help people.
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

Discover what you could earn in Washington

  • Average hourly rate is $34 per hour with an average salary of $67,300 per year.
  • Half of workers earn between $23 and $41 per hour.
  • Half of workers earn an annual salary between $9,700 and $59,000 per year.
  • 47% of individuals in this occupation have been employed in every quarter of the past year.

Part-time

  • The average hourly rate for part-time workers is $34 per hour with an average salary of $33,500 per year.

Recreational Therapist job outlook

  • There are 233 workers in this occupation in Washington.
  • There are 216 openings per year in this occupation in Washington.

Multiple Jobs

  • 7% of individuals in this occupation worked for more than one employer.
  • 32% of individuals in this occupation held a position in another.

Growth rate by year

Education needed

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Programs to get you there

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