Headline risk
0%
Very Low RiskRecreational therapists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 60,280
Employment 2024
16.1K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.3%
Openings (2024–34)
1.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs. AI use: 0%
- 2. Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy. AI use: 0%
- 3. Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities. AI use: 0%
- 4. Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed. AI use: 0%
- 5. Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs. AI use: 0%
- 6. Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 41.9 · 338K employed
Under 25: 3% · 25–54: 80% · 55+: 17%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
title_match · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
Recreational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments. Most work full time.
Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Many employers require them to be certified.
The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $60,280 in May 2024.
Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.