Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between recreation therapists and athletic trainers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a recreation therapist, becoming an athletic trainer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a recreation therapist has an average salary of $55,992, which is higher than the $47,028 average annual salary of an athletic trainer.
The top three skills for a recreation therapist include patients, CTRS and mental health. The most important skills for an athletic trainer are patients, rehabilitation, and CPR.
| Recreation Therapist | Athletic Trainer | |
| Yearly salary | $55,992 | $47,028 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $22.61 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 54,263 | 56,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
An athletic trainer is a healthcare professional who works with physicians to improve a patient's quality of life. Their profession encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chronic medical conditions involving disabilities, functional limitations, and impairments. As an athletic trainer, you will typically do various tasks, including recognizing and evaluating injuries, providing emergency care or first aid, and developing and implementing rehabilitation programs. You are also responsible for planning and implementing programs to help prevent sports injuries among athletes.
Recreation therapists and athletic trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Therapist | Athletic Trainer | |
| Average salary | $55,992 | $47,028 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $85,000 | Between $35,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Greenwich, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Cottage Health | Ethical Culture Fieldston School |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation therapist and an athletic trainer in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Therapist | Athletic Trainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Athletic Training |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between recreation therapists' and athletic trainers' demographics:
| Recreation Therapist | Athletic Trainer | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |