Post job

Activity therapist vs recreational therapy aide

The differences between activity therapists and recreational therapy aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an activity therapist and a recreational therapy aide. Additionally, an activity therapist has an average salary of $54,001, which is higher than the $50,346 average annual salary of a recreational therapy aide.

The top three skills for an activity therapist include patients, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a recreational therapy aide are recreational therapy, patients, and CPR.

Activity therapist vs recreational therapy aide overview

Activity TherapistRecreational Therapy Aide
Yearly salary$54,001$50,346
Hourly rate$25.96$24.20
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs25,09250,591
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Activity therapist vs recreational therapy aide salary

Activity therapists and recreational therapy aides have different pay scales, as shown below.

Activity TherapistRecreational Therapy Aide
Average salary$54,001$50,346
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $78,000Between $35,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between activity therapist and recreational therapy aide education

There are a few differences between an activity therapist and a recreational therapy aide in terms of educational background:

Activity TherapistRecreational Therapy Aide
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorRehabilitation ScienceRehabilitation Science
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkDuke University

Activity therapist vs recreational therapy aide demographics

Here are the differences between activity therapists' and recreational therapy aides' demographics:

Activity TherapistRecreational Therapy Aide
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 25.8% Female, 74.2%Male, 23.9% Female, 76.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between activity therapist and recreational therapy aide duties and responsibilities

Activity therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator care, intubation, arterial line placement, mechanical ventilation, BIPAP, and CPAP.
  • Organize and participate in treatment programs and activities that facilitate clients' rehabilitation to help integrate back into the community.
  • Work with rehabilitation service's program coordinator to plan treatment programs that facilitate clients' rehabilitation through social and environmental interventions.
  • Show love and compassion, always in a happy mood.
  • Provide therapy for children on the autism spectrum in their homes.
  • Supervise children with autism, schizophrenia, and the mentally challenge.
  • Show more

Recreational therapy aide example responsibilities.

  • Work with MDS coordinator and interview residents for annual MDS sections and care planning.
  • Counsele and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
  • Assist recreation therapists in planning and implementing recreation-base treatment programs to patients.
  • Coordinate rehabilitation practices through recreational activities
  • Perform orthopedic rehabilitation and adolescent psych rehabilitation.
  • Perform orthopedic rehabilitation and adolescent psych rehabilitation.

Activity therapist vs recreational therapy aide skills

Common activity therapist skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Mental Health, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 8%
  • Treatment Programs, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Recreational Therapy, 5%
Common recreational therapy aide skills
  • Recreational Therapy, 32%
  • Patients, 25%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Compassion, 11%
  • Music Therapy, 9%
  • Therapeutic Recreation Programs, 8%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs