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Recreation therapist vs general activities therapist

The differences between recreation therapists and general activities 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 recreation therapist and a general activities therapist. Additionally, a recreation therapist has an average salary of $55,992, which is higher than the $49,984 average annual salary of a general activities therapist.

The top three skills for a recreation therapist include patients, CTRS and mental health. The most important skills for a general activities therapist are interdisciplinary, instructional capacity, and .

Recreation therapist vs general activities therapist overview

Recreation TherapistGeneral Activities Therapist
Yearly salary$55,992$49,984
Hourly rate$26.92$24.03
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs54,26359,502
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Recreation therapist vs general activities therapist salary

Recreation therapists and general activities therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreation TherapistGeneral Activities Therapist
Average salary$55,992$49,984
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $85,000Between $35,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyCottage Health-
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between recreation therapist and general activities therapist education

There are a few differences between a recreation therapist and a general activities therapist in terms of educational background:

Recreation TherapistGeneral Activities Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorRehabilitation ScienceKinesiology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachNorthwestern University

Recreation therapist vs general activities therapist demographics

Here are the differences between recreation therapists' and general activities therapists' demographics:

Recreation TherapistGeneral Activities Therapist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 27.5% Female, 72.5%Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8%
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 recreation therapist and general activities therapist duties and responsibilities

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.
    • Show more

General activities therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator care, intubation, arterial line placement, mechanical ventilation, BIPAP, and CPAP.
  • Serve on committees, attend interdisciplinary meetings and intervene in crisis situations.
  • Identify presenting/existing barriers that impede adequate social-functioning and goal-attainment with the purpose of connecting patients to adequate resources within a community.
  • Receive DBT, recovery model, and therapeutic communication training to enhance therapeutic techniques.

Recreation therapist vs general activities therapist skills

Common recreation therapist skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • CTRS, 11%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • CPR, 4%
Common general activities therapist skills
  • Interdisciplinary, 78%
  • Instructional Capacity, 22%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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