Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Recreational therapists work in a specialized healthcare-related field focused on improving quality of life through structured activities and programs. The national median annual salary of $60,280 places this role in a solid earnings range. With national employment of about 16,000 and projected growth of 3.3%, this career shows steady demand supported by about 1,000 annual openings. The role draws on a broad mix of strengths, including interpersonal communication, creativity and innovation, project management, and adaptability. Recreational therapists also benefit from leadership skills, customer service abilities, and strong speaking and listening. Critical and analytical thinking, along with writing and reading skills, support planning and documentation. Physical strength and stamina are also important for success. For people who enjoy working directly with others, designing and managing activities, and balancing creative and analytical tasks, recreational therapy offers a structured career path with clear opportunities across multiple states and metro areas, anchored by a typical education level of a bachelor’s degree.
Recreational therapists earn a national median annual salary of $60,280, providing a clear baseline for evaluating earning potential. Pay varies notably by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $98,170, followed by Washington at $77,860, Colorado at $66,580, New York at $65,520, and Massachusetts at $62,820. The top metro areas show even higher medians in some locations. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $102,420, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $101,670. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers $71,050, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has $66,050 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provides $63,390. These figures indicate that earnings can be substantially higher than the national median in select states and metro areas, especially in parts of California, making geographic choice a key factor in income potential.
Recreational therapists have national employment of about 16,000, with projected employment growth of 3.3%. This indicates a modest but positive outlook over the projection period. The field is expected to generate about 1,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing demand from a combination of new positions and replacement needs. The same projected growth rate of 3.3% appears in several leading states and metro areas, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and all listed top metros. This consistency suggests a relatively stable growth expectation across these highlighted regions. For job seekers, the combination of existing national employment, projected growth, and steady annual openings points to a career path with continuing opportunities rather than rapid expansion or contraction. Those willing to consider multiple regions—especially the states and metro areas with strong opportunity scores—may find a broader set of options when planning their long-term careers as recreational therapists.
Location plays a major role in career planning for recreational therapists, with clear differences across top states and metro areas. Among states, California leads by opportunity score (67.38), with a high median salary of $98,170 and employment of 1,920. New York follows with an opportunity score of 65.78, a median salary of $65,520, and 1,230 employed. Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington also show solid opportunity scores between about 56 and 66, with median salaries ranging from $62,820 in Massachusetts to $77,860 in Washington. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, combining notable employment counts with strong pay. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest listed median salary at $102,420. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provide additional options with balanced salaries and employment. Collectively, these data highlight meaningful differences in both pay and concentration of jobs depending on state and metro.
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree, providing a clear educational benchmark for entry into the field. This level of education supports the wide-ranging skills associated with the role. Strong interpersonal skills and speaking and listening abilities are essential for working directly with clients and colleagues. Creativity and innovation, combined with project management and adaptability, underpin the design and coordination of therapeutic activities and programs. Leadership and customer service skills help guide groups and maintain positive experiences. Writing and reading skills, along with critical and analytical thinking, contribute to planning, recordkeeping, and evaluating activities. Physical strength and stamina are also highlighted, reflecting the physical aspects that can be part of this work. For students and career changers, aiming for a bachelor’s degree while intentionally building these skill areas—through coursework, projects, or relevant experience—aligns directly with what employers seek in recreational therapists.
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