Music therapy internship vs recreation therapist

The differences between music therapy interns and recreation therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a music therapy internship and a recreation therapist. Additionally, a recreation therapist has an average salary of $55,992, which is higher than the $36,844 average annual salary of a music therapy internship.

The top three skills for a music therapy internship include patients, occupational therapy and mental health. The most important skills for a recreation therapist are patients, CTRS, and mental health.

Music therapy internship vs recreation therapist overview

	Music Therapy Internship	Recreation Therapist
Yearly salary	$36,844	$55,992
Hourly rate	$17.71	$26.92
Growth rate	14%	4%
Number of jobs	111,846	54,263
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age	40	43
Years of experience	12	12

What does a music therapy internship do?

In a music therapy internship, an intern's duties primarily depend on the directives of a manager or supervising staff. Typically, they are responsible for gaining industry insights and practical experience while performing support tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documents, conducting research and analysis, setting-up instruments and other devices, and running errands as needed. They may also assist and work with clients under the supervision of a therapist. Moreover, they must understand and adhere to the facility's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

What does a recreation therapist do?

A recreation therapist is responsible for supporting the patients' physical and mental wellness by organizing therapeutic programs and activities, depending on the patients' condition and existing treatment plans. Recreation therapists work with other medical health professionals for advice and medication needs. They also track the patients' progress, maintain a medical chart, and report any updates to the physicians and patients' family members. A recreation therapist manages the resources and materials for the activities and ensures the safety and security of the participants.

Music therapy internship vs recreation therapist salary

Music therapy interns and recreation therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Music Therapy Internship	Recreation Therapist
Average salary	$36,844	$55,992
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $61,000	Between $36,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Cottage Health
Best paying industry	-	Education

Differences between music therapy internship and recreation therapist education

There are a few differences between a music therapy internship and a recreation therapist in terms of educational background:

	Music Therapy Internship	Recreation Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Psychology	Rehabilitation Science
Most common college	Duke University	California State University - Long Beach

Music therapy internship vs recreation therapist demographics

Here are the differences between music therapy interns' and recreation therapists' demographics:

	Music Therapy Internship	Recreation Therapist
Average age	40	43
Gender ratio	Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0%	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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 Percentage	14%	9%

Differences between music therapy internship and recreation therapist duties and responsibilities

Music therapy internship example responsibilities.

Customize recreational therapy interventions with patients who have acquired either a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.
Help with casting limbs and making splints.
Assist occupational therapists with fabricating splints for orthopedic conditions involving the upper extremities.
Develop and implement therapeutic activities for individuals, groups under direction of OTR/L.
Document all patient interactions through skil observation and coordinate information both verbally and electronically to supervising OTR/L.
Conduct initial assessments, document patient progress in group activities; discuss patients' progress in multidisciplinary therapy meetings.

Recreation therapist example responsibilities.

Manage ventilator care, intubation, arterial line placement, mechanical ventilation, BIPAP, and CPAP.
Evaluate assigned patients to assess and document the need for therapeutic recreational interventions in order to attain rehabilitation goals.
Obtain ABG samples when need, EKG analysis, and oxygen therapy to patients.
Support the CTRS in planning and implementation of in- house events and community outings.
Organize and facilitate programs for TBI survivors and their families.
Use patient prefer music to apply NMT protocols into sessions.

Music therapy internship vs recreation therapist skills

Common music therapy internship skills

Patients, 26%
Occupational Therapy, 8%
Mental Health, 7%
Individual Therapy Sessions, 6%
Group Therapy Sessions, 4%
Substance Abuse, 4%

Common recreation therapist skills

Patients, 27%
CTRS, 11%
Mental Health, 7%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
CPR, 4%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Music Therapy Internship
Music Therapy Internship vs Recreation Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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