Recreational Therapists
Health Science · Therapeutic Services
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $41,480; experienced workers reach $90,020. About 60 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- +16.4%
- Openings a year
- 13
- Employed in 2024
- 140
Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.
Browse all programsSkills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Service Orientation4.3
- Social Perceptiveness4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
What the work is
Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
- Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
- Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
- Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
- Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- Bachelor's degree97%
- Master's degree3%
Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.
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