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Recreational Therapy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Recreational Therapy will provide recreational activity and related services for the residents in the Hermitage Hall program. The RT will actively participate in ensuring the RAD Department ...

The Recreational Therapy will provide recreational activity and related services for the residents in the Hermitage Hall program. The RT will actively participate in ensuring the RAD Department ...

Recreational Therapist

Avon, IN · On-site

$50 - $57/hr

Planning and providing appropriate recreational therapy activities and interventions. * Completing progress notes, due by the end of each month. * Attending quarterly meetings to report therapy ...

The Director of Recreational Therapy will: * Provide leadership and direction for the Recreational Therapy department * Develop and manage a comprehensive therapeutic programming schedule along with ...

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Recreational Therapy information

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$14

$35

$64

How much do recreational therapy jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for recreational therapy in the United States is $35.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.84 and $46.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is recreational therapy?

Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a type of therapy that uses recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Certified recreational therapists work with people who have illnesses or disabilities to improve their quality of life, help them regain or enhance their functional abilities, and promote overall wellness. Activities may include arts and crafts, sports, games, music, and community outings, all tailored to meet specific therapeutic goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Recreational Therapist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Recreational Therapist, you need a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or a related field, knowledge of assessment techniques, and the ability to design therapeutic activities for diverse populations. Familiarity with adaptive equipment, patient progress tracking software, and often the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential are important technical qualifications. Strong interpersonal skills, creativity, and patience help build rapport with clients and tailor interventions to individual needs. These skills and qualities are crucial for promoting client engagement, supporting rehabilitation goals, and enhancing overall well-being.

Are recreational therapists in demand?

Recreational therapists are in growing demand due to an increased focus on holistic healthcare and patient well-being. Employment opportunities are expected to expand as healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, and senior care services seek professionals skilled in therapeutic recreation and activity planning.

What qualifications do you need to be a recreational therapist?

Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy, therapeutic recreation, or a related field. Certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) is often required or preferred, and strong interpersonal skills and knowledge of healthcare environments are important for the role.

What is the difference between Recreational Therapy vs Physical Therapy?

AspectRecreational TherapyPhysical Therapy
CredentialsCertified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or Physical Therapist (PT) license
Work EnvironmentHospitals, rehab centers, community programsClinics, hospitals, outpatient centers
Industry UsageHealthcare, mental health, community wellnessRehabilitation, sports medicine, orthopedics
FocusUsing recreational activities to improve well-beingRestoring physical function and mobility

Recreational Therapy and Physical Therapy both aim to improve health but focus on different approaches. Recreational Therapy emphasizes using leisure activities to enhance mental, emotional, and social well-being, often working in community or mental health settings. Physical Therapy concentrates on restoring physical function through exercises and manual therapy, primarily in medical and rehabilitation environments. While they share some credentials and work environments, their goals and methods differ significantly.

How does a Recreational Therapist typically collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop patient treatment plans?

Recreational Therapists regularly work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, which may include physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers. They participate in team meetings to discuss patient progress and contribute their perspective in creating holistic treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. This collaboration ensures that recreational therapy interventions align with overall medical and rehabilitation goals, leading to better patient outcomes and coordinated care.

What jobs can you do with a recreational therapy degree?

A recreational therapy degree prepares individuals for roles such as recreational therapist, activity director, or therapeutic recreation specialist, often working in healthcare, rehabilitation, or senior care settings. These jobs involve designing and implementing recreational activities to improve clients' physical, emotional, and social well-being, and may require certification or licensure depending on the state or organization.

Where do recreational therapists make the most money?

Recreational therapists tend to earn higher salaries in healthcare settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers, especially in regions with higher living costs. Salaries can also increase with experience, advanced certifications, and specialization in areas like mental health or geriatrics.
More about Recreational Therapy jobs
What cities are hiring for Recreational Therapy jobs? Cities with the most Recreational Therapy job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Recreational Therapy jobs? The most popular types of Recreational Therapy jobs are:
What states have the most Recreational Therapy jobs? States with the most job openings for Recreational Therapy jobs include:
Infographic showing various Recreational Therapy job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 28% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,740 per year, or $35.5 per hour.
Recreational Therapy

Recreational Therapy

UHS

Nashville, TN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Universal Health Services rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 249 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

528th of 872 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities
We are currently seeking a Recreational Therapy, (SIGN ON BONUS, $5/K) to join our professional team!
Hermitage Hall (a UHS company) is one of Middle Tennessee's largest stand-alone psychiatric residential treatment hospitals. Licensed by Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as a mental health residential treatment center for children and youth, Hermitage Hall has provided services to families for over 30 years. Located southwest of downtown Nashville, off I-65 at the Wedgewood exit, away from the congestion of downtown Nashville, our team of over 130 high quality employees describe working here as family oriented, therapeutic, value clarifying.
Position Summary: The Recreational Therapy will provide recreational activity and related services for the residents in the Hermitage Hall program. The RT will actively participate in ensuring the RAD Department functions are carried out in a professional, consistent and thorough manner to include: social skills program; recreational therapy program; off-campus therapeutic activities; treatment planning; individual, unit and facility events; staff training; other functions as requested. This individual will be responsible for coordination, scheduling and facilitation of programming within the RAD program for the residents and staff of Hermitage Hall. They will be responsible for all documentation associated with assigned functions. This individual is capable of functioning independently and maturely in stressful situations and maintains a community-safety focus.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Oversees and facilitates high quality residential activity services for all residents, and provides activities (e.g. team building) for staff as requested
  • Oversees the development of, and ensures the facilitation of, comprehensive Social Skills programming for all residents.
  • Ensures that comprehensive therapeutic recreation services are scheduled and facilitated, including individual and group activities.
  • Ensures all residents complete recreational therapy and skills assessments, as necessary, to provide residents with appropriate treatment services.
  • Organizes and oversees facility-wide activities and events.
  • Organizes and oversees vocational training program for residents, as appropriate.
Benefit Highlights:
  • Challenging and rewarding work environment
  • Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
  • Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
  • 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
  • SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
  • Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
  • Pet Insurance
  • Free meal per shift
  • More information is available on our Benefits Guest Website: benefits.uhsguest.com
About Universal Health Services
One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500® corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America's Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 40 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. For additional information visit www.uhs.com.
From Fortune, ©2025, 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.
Qualifications
Requirements:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Recreation, Education, or other related field, master's degree preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree candidate must have a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), required.
  • Related experience one to three years.
  • Experience in a residential setting with facilitating groups & activities, scheduling and planning activity, teambuilding, skill building and navigating group dynamics.
  • Knowledge of assessment (social skills, recreational skills, etc.) preferred.
  • Experience in treatment planning and education preferred.
  • Must attend the two-week orientation classes, Monday through Friday.
***This role requires a successful background check, fingerprinting and employment verification**
EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams
We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.
If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

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About Universal Health Services

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Universal Health Services (UHS) is a major player in the healthcare industry, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Founded in 1978, UHS offers hospital and healthcare services. Their diverse services range from acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide. The company's mission of enhancing the health and well-being of their patients is reflected in their commitment to 'Helping Individuals Live Longer, Healthier and Happier Lives'. Universal Health Services' consistent growth and success in their industry have been recognized on numerous occasions, including being ranked amongst the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US