The average certified recreational therapist salary is $61,472. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an rehabilitation science major. It usually takes 3-6 months of experience to become a certified recreational therapist. Certified recreational therapists with a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 1,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What Does a Certified Recreational Therapist Do

Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. These therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.

How To Become a Certified Recreational Therapist

Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Many employers require therapists to be certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

Learn More About How To Become a Certified Recreational Therapist
Top Certified Recreational Therapist Jobs Near You

Average Salary for a Certified Recreational Therapist

Certified Recreational Therapists in America make an average salary of $61,472 per year or $30 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $92,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $41,000 per year.
Average Certified Recreational Therapist Salary
$61,472 Yearly
$29.55 hourly

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Roles and Types of Certified Recreational Therapist

There are several types of certified recreational therapist, including:

Therapist

Role:

A therapist is the keeper of secrets. Neither therapist nor client is likely to advertise what is going on during sessions. You might have pinned down therapists as doctors of psychology who try to help the weak and crazy among us.

Well, the truth is contrary: it is a humble and courageous gesture to seek the help of a professional, not only in moments of crisis, trying to deal with harmful mental patterns or toxic core beliefs, which cause suffering to the patient and his/her or her environment alike, but also on a preventive basis.

So, just as much as it is the job of therapists to diagnose mental health problems and propose and conduct treatments, it is also their responsibility to make sure a diagnosis will never be necessary.
  • Average Salary: $55,943
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Treatment Coordinator

Role:

As a treatment coordinator, you will assist doctors and other medical professionals in performing treatment procedures and giving medications to patients. You will perform administrative duties like scheduling medical appointments, informing patients about the various treatment plans, maintaining medical information on the database, and processing payments for medical procedures. You will also collaborate with the insurance agencies to verify the eligibility status of patients and their information. As a treatment coordinator, you will work with patients in the recovery period, and you will manage treatment plans recommended by the doctor. Additionally, you will ensure patients take the necessary medication and ensure that they adhere to treatment plans.

To become a treatment coordinator, you need at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some employers prefer an associate's degree. You must possess organization, planning, interpersonal, computer, and communication skills and must have at least a year of relevant work experience. Treatment coordinators earn an average salary of $41,249 per annum. This ranges between $29,000 and $59,000.
  • Average Salary: $41,699
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Recreation Therapist

Role:

Recreation therapists are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments.

These therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient's physical, social, and emotional well-being. Educational requirements to qualify for the position include a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or a related field such as art therapy and physical therapy.

It usually takes a person four to five years to become a recreation therapist. A small number of states within the United States require licensing. While you may not need a license in your state, most employers prefer to hire recreation therapists with the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential.

Recreation therapists' employment is projected to grow 8% in the coming years, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median pay for a normal workweek is $23.18 an hour, which equates to $48,220 a year. The position is highly rewarding, both emotionally, monetarily, and physically.
  • Average Salary: $55,992
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

States With The Most Certified Recreational Therapist Jobs

Number Of Certified Recreational Therapist Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California6,192$84,300
2Texas4,006$59,457
3Illinois2,739$49,475
4New York2,726$59,312
5Virginia2,029$53,545
6New Jersey1,812$78,277
7Missouri1,512$51,336
8Georgia1,434$49,752
9Pennsylvania1,287$63,347
10Maryland1,197$66,674
11North Carolina1,197$46,466
12Ohio1,156$55,324
13Indiana1,066$43,466
14Washington980$66,527
15Michigan907$53,848
16Oregon893$78,987
17Kentucky889$51,450
18Alabama830$54,372
19Colorado791$51,709
20Oklahoma714$49,787
21Tennessee665$48,863
22Wisconsin659$44,515
23South Carolina603$51,112
24Arizona602$60,809
25Minnesota584$54,048
26Arkansas515$56,218
27Iowa493$47,774
28Kansas465$47,168
29Utah433$72,474
30Louisiana388$59,359
31Nevada365$53,312
32Nebraska364$53,720
33Mississippi275$67,240
34Idaho191$64,525
35Maine188$51,786
36North Dakota181$67,375
37Montana174$50,759
38Delaware157$49,905
39Florida143$44,294
40Massachusetts127$57,937
41South Dakota127$50,732
42New Hampshire121$54,332
43Hawaii74$49,389
44Alaska58$72,474
45Vermont55$50,942
46Wyoming51$51,633
47Connecticut22$63,086
48New Mexico12$62,864
49Rhode Island10$46,026
50West Virginia5$55,513

Certified Recreational Therapist Education

Certified Recreational Therapist Majors

Certified Recreational Therapist Degrees

Bachelors

82.3 %

Masters

11.5 %

Associate

5.2 %

Top Colleges for Certified Recreational Therapists

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Recreation Management
Rehabilitation Science

2. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,310

Enrollment

28,439

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Recreation Management
Rehabilitation Science

3. University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,222

Enrollment

23,396

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Nursing
Rehabilitation Science
Recreation Management

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Rehabilitation Science
Recreation Management

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,210

Enrollment

11,559

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Rehabilitation Science
Recreation Management

6. SUNY College at Cortland

Cortland, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,536

Enrollment

6,325

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Rehabilitation Science
Recreation Management

7. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-State Tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Kinesiology

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Rehabilitation Science
Recreation Management

9. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Kinesiology
Rehabilitation Science

10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Kinesiology
Recreation Management

Top Skills For a Certified Recreational Therapist

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 22.4% of certified recreational therapists listed patients on their resume, but soft skills such as leadership skills and listening skills are important as well.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Certified Recreational Therapist Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Certified Recreational Therapist templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Certified Recreational Therapist resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume
Certified Recreational Therapist Resume

Certified Recreational Therapist Demographics

Certified Recreational Therapist Gender Distribution

Female
Female
80%
Male
Male
20%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among certified recreational therapists, 80.4% of them are women, while 19.6% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among certified recreational therapists is White, which makes up 74.7% of all certified recreational therapists.

  • The most common foreign language among certified recreational therapists is Spanish at 50.0%.

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Top Certified Recreational Therapist Employers

Most Common Employers For Certified Recreational Therapist

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1Dignity Health$79,994$38.461
2American Red Cross$65,410$31.451
3The New Jewish Home$64,715$31.111
4Cedars-Sinai$64,244$30.891
5Riverside Medical Center$63,838$30.692
6LTCG$63,594$30.571
7Siskin Hospital$62,961$30.271
8Fresno Community Hospital And Medical Center$62,544$30.071
9Disability Services of the Southwest$62,344$29.971
10Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan$61,915$29.771