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The differences between therapeutic recreation specialists and rehabilitation specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a therapeutic recreation specialist and a rehabilitation specialist. Additionally, a therapeutic recreation specialist has an average salary of $46,477, which is higher than the $42,934 average annual salary of a rehabilitation specialist.
The top three skills for a therapeutic recreation specialist include patients, CTRS and interdisciplinary. The most important skills for a rehabilitation specialist are rehabilitation, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,477 | $42,934 |
| Hourly rate | $22.34 | $20.64 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 38,571 | 29,177 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.
Therapeutic recreation specialists and rehabilitation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,477 | $42,934 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | Prudential Bank |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Professional |
There are a few differences between a therapeutic recreation specialist and a rehabilitation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between therapeutic recreation specialists' and rehabilitation specialists' demographics:
| Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 21% |