American Therapeutic
Recreation Association

This information represents data acquired from a random sample of ATRA members and as a result it may not be generalizable to the entire profession. An overview of these results indicated that the mean salary of the respondents in 1994 was $32,487.00 and in 1996 it was $35,656.00. What follows are tables outlining specific salary levels by various demographic categories. Additional data analysis indicated that as in the 1994 survey that years of experience, degree level, and specific region in which the therapist is employed are all importance factors when discussing salary levels of recreational therapists.

Mean Income (1994) = 32,487 Mean Income (1996) = 35,656

Salary by Gender     1994 Survey         1996 Survey  
Position N Mean Minimum Maximum   N Mean Minimum Maximum
Male 31 34,119 18,000 62,400< /td>   41 40,831 26,000 81,000
Female 178 32,203 15,900 73,000   216 34,577 15,600 72,000

Salary by Position                  
Position N Mean Minimum Maximum   N Mean Minimum Maximum
Therapist 119 28,942 15,900 50,000   148 32,814 15,600 59,900
Consultant 6 36,933 27,600 45,000   6 45,916 28,500 72,000
Supervisor 53 35,160 18,500 62,400  
64
 37,457 20,000 67,579
Administrator 20 39,896 19,760 73,000  
20
 44,450 25,000 81,000
Educator 6 49,311 40,000 60,000   12 40,138 26,000 54,000

Salary by Degree                  
Degree N Mean Minimum Maximum   N Mean Minimum Maximum
Bachelor's 154 30,058 15,900 51,000   172 34,027 15,500 67,579
Master's 50 37,138 24,000 62,400   76 38,502 20,592 81,000
Doctorate 5 60,800 51,000 73,000   9 42,962 35,800 54,000

Salary by Area of Specialization                  
Specialization N Mean Minimum Maximum   N Mean Minimum Maximum
Gerontology. 33 33,565 17,500 60,000   62 34,702 15,600 60,000
Community 6 28,250 22,000 32,000   10 30,800 21,000 42,000
Mental Retardation 3 32,000 27,000 37,000   10 32,624 20,592 40,000
Substance Abuse 3 35,333 31,000 40,000   13 35,594 24,900 59,990
Physical Medicine/ Rehab 71 31,752 15,900 53,000   64 37,124 22,000 72,000
Psychiatric Mental Health 68 31,190 18,000 62,400   84 35,238 22,000 56,089
Pediatrics 3 27,566 23,000 35,000   3 27,666 26,000 30,000

Credit: Frank M. Brasile, Ph.D., CTRS