Recreation Therapy Assistant Psychiatric
- BLS
How this pay compares
This posting states $15.60–$23.01 an hour. Recreational therapists employed in Arizona earn a median of $30.10 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
Recreational therapists in Arizona: pay by town and employer
Workplace injuries
Valleywise Main Hospital in Phoenix reported 142 work injuries and illnesses to OSHA for 2025 over 5,249,472 hours worked: 5.4 per 100 full-time workers, against 5.1 per 100 full-time workers at general hospitalsnationwide. This is the employer's own report. Workplace injuries by employer.
Medicare rating of Valleywise Health Medical Center
Medicare gives Valleywise Health Medical Center 1 of 5 stars (Jul 2026; Arizona's hospitals average 3.0). 74% of its patients said their nurses always communicated well (the middle US hospital: 79%). Medicare did not cut its pay for patient harm in fiscal 2026. Its central line bloodstream infections ran 74% below predicted by Medicare's measure. Patients' ratings of their care, not employees' of the job. Its other hospitals · Arizona hospitals by rating.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Medicare lists Valleywise Health Medical Center as a government hospital: the kind of employer PSLF counts (a government organization or a 501(c)(3) non-profit) for its own full-time staff, toward forgiveness of federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments. The federal PSLF Help Tool confirms an employer by the EIN on your W-2. Every PSLF-eligible hospital hiring.
Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs in our research
- How long these jobs stay listed: Still listed at 7 days 87.1%
- Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.21x · Clicks 25
- How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 52.9% · Stating an hourly rate 32.3%
From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 11 Nov 2026. Every figure for Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs
About the job
Under the direct supervision of the Recreation Therapy Manager, this position participates in completing recreation therapy intake assessments and documentation, developing and implementing therapeutic groups, maintaining weekly documentation, planning programs and special events, actively participating in department staff meetings, and coordinating agency-wide events. This position also actively participates in department staff meetings and coordinates special events for patients and staff, as well as organization-wide events.
Hourly Pay Range: $15.60 - $23.01 - Part Time
Qualifications
Education
- Requires a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Psychology, or a related field from an accredited college or university or an equivalent combination of training and progressively responsible experience that will result in the required specialized knowledge and abilities to perform the assigned work.
Experience
- Must have a minimum of one (1) year of progressively responsible recreation assisting activities for physically, mentally, or socially disabled patients in a psychiatric setting experience that demonstrates a strong understanding of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Prefer experience as a Recreation Therapy Assistant or Behavioral Health Tech.
Certification/Licensure
- A BLS card obtained through an approved American Heart Association (AHA) training center is required and must be obtained within 3 months of hire.
- Pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code R9-10-306 CHAPTER 10 of the Dept. of Health Services, personnel must be at least 21 years of age or at least 18 years of age and licensed or certified under A.R.S. Title 32 and providing services within the personnel member’s scope of practice.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Must possess a general knowledge of medical diagnoses and appropriate interventions.
- Must have strong teamwork, communication, and effective time management skills.
- Requires the ability to be creative and flexible with groups.
- Must have excellent documentation skills.
- Requires the ability to read, write, and speak effectively in English.
From Valleywise Health System's job posting, checked 12 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
All agencies and apps →
AB Staffing SolutionsTravel nursing agency
Places travel nurses, therapists and allied professionals on contracts nationwide.
Places: Nurses, Allied health, Therapy & rehab, Imaging

Pioneer Healthcare ServicesTravel nursing agency
Places travel nurses, therapists, allied health and school-based professionals on contract assignments.
Places: Nurses, CNAs & PCTs, Therapy & rehab, Mental health
These agencies and apps pay CareJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Hospital and clinic jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay CareJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs in Arizona, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Valleywise Health System
Valleywise Health System hires nurses, medical assistants and mental health staff in Phoenix, Arizona.
Hires in ArizonaPay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
More open jobs at Valleywise Health System
- Medical Technologist$28.08–$41.42/hr
- Anesthesia Tech$16.87–$24.88/hr
- Health Unit Coordinator$16.87–$24.88/hr
- Nurse Extern$29/hr
- Peer Support Specialist$21.34–$31.48/hr
- Registered Nurse - NICU$35.52–$52.39/hr
More physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs
A licensed therapist?
One profile for every employer here. Hospitals, clinics and care companies ask us for people with a specific license, specialty, language or schedule: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Valleywise Health System openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Valleywise Health System's own careers site, along with similar openings at other hospitals and care employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.