Post job

What is a recreational therapy technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a recreational therapy technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.79 an hour? That's $45,332 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreRecreational Therapy TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.5

Avg. Salary $45,332

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 3.27%

Black or African American 6.53%

Hispanic or Latino 10.21%

Unknown 4.49%

White 74.73%

Gender

female 64.29%

male 35.71%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a recreational therapy technician

  1. Explore recreational therapy technician education requirements

    Most common recreational therapy technician degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.3 %

    Master's

    13.3 %

    High School Diploma

    6.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific recreational therapy technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Developmental Disabilities100.00%
  3. Complete relevant recreational therapy technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreational therapy technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a recreational therapy technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreational therapy technician resumes.
  4. Research recreational therapy technician duties and responsibilities

    • Implement and plan activities, written by CTRS.
    • Prepare materials for assessments and provide assistance to individuals through hands-on methods and direct contact observations by assisting the rehabilitation supervisor.
    • Redesign gazebo for accessible gardening activities.
  5. Prepare your recreational therapy technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreational therapy technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a recreational therapy technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable recreational therapy technician resume templates

    Build a professional recreational therapy technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your recreational therapy technician resume.
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
    Recreational Therapy Technician Resume
  6. Apply for recreational therapy technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a recreational therapy technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first recreational therapy technician job

Zippi

Are you a recreational therapy technician?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average recreational therapy technician salary

The average recreational therapy technician salary in the United States is $45,332 per year or $22 per hour. Recreational therapy technician salaries range between $30,000 and $67,000 per year.

Average recreational therapy technician salary
$45,332 Yearly
$21.79 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do recreational therapy technicians rate their job?

Working as a recreational therapy technician? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs