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Recreational therapy aide vs athletic trainer

The differences between recreational therapy aides 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 recreational therapy aide, becoming an athletic trainer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a recreational therapy aide has an average salary of $50,346, which is higher than the $47,028 average annual salary of an athletic trainer.

The top three skills for a recreational therapy aide include recreational therapy, patients and CPR. The most important skills for an athletic trainer are patients, rehabilitation, and CPR.

Recreational therapy aide vs athletic trainer overview

Recreational Therapy AideAthletic Trainer
Yearly salary$50,346$47,028
Hourly rate$24.20$22.61
Growth rate4%17%
Number of jobs50,59156,812
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4340
Years of experience124

Recreational therapy aide vs athletic trainer salary

Recreational therapy aides and athletic trainers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreational Therapy AideAthletic Trainer
Average salary$50,346$47,028
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $71,000Between $35,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City-Greenwich, CT
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Best paying industry--

Differences between recreational therapy aide and athletic trainer education

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

Recreational Therapy AideAthletic Trainer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorRehabilitation ScienceAthletic Training
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Recreational therapy aide vs athletic trainer demographics

Here are the differences between recreational therapy aides' and athletic trainers' demographics:

Recreational Therapy AideAthletic Trainer
Average age4340
Gender ratioMale, 23.9% Female, 76.1%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage9%10%

Differences between recreational therapy aide and athletic trainer duties and responsibilities

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.

Athletic trainer example responsibilities.

  • Administer rehabilitation procedures and the safety of athletes at practices and games including ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
  • Evaluate and create a rehabilitation program for ankle sprains, fibula fractures, and shin splints.
  • Administer multiple therapeutic techniques for student athletes including electrical stimulation and ultrasound
  • Assist physical therapist in generating rehabilitation protocols for patients, progress exercises, order supplies for clinic and oversee aide scheduling.
  • Assist with OSHA record keeping.
  • Maintain cleanliness of gym and stations.
  • Show more

Recreational therapy aide vs athletic trainer skills

Common recreational therapy aide skills
  • Recreational Therapy, 32%
  • Patients, 25%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Compassion, 11%
  • Music Therapy, 9%
  • Therapeutic Recreation Programs, 8%
Common athletic trainer skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Rehabilitation, 19%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Student Athletes, 5%
  • Athletic Injuries, 4%

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