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The differences between therapeutic recreation specialists and recreation specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a therapeutic recreation specialist, becoming a recreation specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a therapeutic recreation specialist has an average salary of $46,477, which is higher than the $39,186 average annual salary of a recreation specialist.
The top three skills for a therapeutic recreation specialist include patients, CTRS and interdisciplinary. The most important skills for a recreation specialist are CPR, customer service, and recreation programs.
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Recreation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,477 | $39,186 |
| Hourly rate | $22.34 | $18.84 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 38,571 | 3,288 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A Therapeutic Recreation Specialist treats people who are suffering from chronic disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. They often work in medical centers, hospitals, and private rehabilitation facilities.
A recreation specialist is responsible for planning and organizing engaging activities according to the event's purpose and community theme. Recreation specialists handle the event's outline from conceptualization to the actual execution, including the location, resources, participants, and budget limitations. They consider the needs of the participants and develop strategic plans that would cater to their lifestyle, growth, and development. A recreation specialist may also conduct outreach operations to gain sponsors and fundraising to enhance community events.
Therapeutic recreation specialists and recreation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Recreation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,477 | $39,186 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Loveland, CO |
| Highest paying state | California | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | Harlem Children's Zone |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a therapeutic recreation specialist and a recreation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Recreation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between therapeutic recreation specialists' and recreation specialists' demographics:
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Recreation Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% |
| 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, 12.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |