As a working adult, you perhaps desire a job change.
However, you might not want to stress yourself over a 180-degree vocational shift.
Instead, you can choose one of these rehabilitation careers if it relates to your current experience.
New students out of high school are also welcome.
1. Music Therapist
Why Become a Music Therapist?
If you’re a struggling musician or performer, you don’t have to give up on your dream of becoming the next world-renowned rockstar.
However, you might need to make a living in the meantime, especially if you have a spouse and children.
At about $87,000 per year after about four years of schooling, you can claim to be a professional musician.
What’s more, the outlook measures at about a 14 percent need increase for these rehab professionals.
Get started as an activity assistant in a nursing home, disability center, medical hospital, or another facility where you can use your musical talents.
This will help you land a related position upon graduation.
The outlook calculates at 10 percent as of 2021.
| Music Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $89,470 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.02 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 7% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Music Therapist
2. Art Therapist
Why Become an Art Therapist?
You don’t have to be a starving artist.
You can make money with your creative talents, and you can have fun helping other people recover from accidents or injuries.
This career combines both the practicality of needing money to support you and your family and a passion for painting, drawing, and more.
Better yet, you only need to attend school for about a year or two.
Then, you could make up to more than $51,000 per year depending on how many clients you have.
| Art Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $53,900 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $25.91 |
| Education | 1-2 Years |
| Outlook | 7% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Art Therapist
3. Occupational Therapist
Why Become an Occupational Therapist?
Do you aspire to help people with disabilities live better lives?
If so, the occupational therapist career track might fit you.
You could assist people with overcoming obstacles that keep them unemployed or help people become more independent.
In this position, you could make about $86,000 per year, and the 18 percent outlook seems promising.
You should have plenty of opportunities after graduation – or even before.
| Occupational Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $89,470 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.02 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 18% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Occupational Therapist
4. Physical Therapist
Why Become a Physical Therapist?
This occupation has an astounding 22 percent need increase outlook, for one.
It also allows you to earn more than $90,000 per year helping people restore themselves back to before they had a life-altering injury.
People could learn to walk and perform daily home and work tasks again because of you, and that could become a source of personal satisfaction.
Help aging and disabled people and others affected by environmental factors too if you want.
| Physical Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $92,920 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $44.67 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 22% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Physical Therapist
5. Rehabilitation Counselor
Why Become a Rehabilitation Counselor?
If you have any life experience that could inspire other people, you could use it to help them.
Perhaps motivate people to stop drinking or using drugs or help them manage their lives despite a physical or mental illness.
Assist them with finding disability support and aid in their possible reentrance into the work world.
Earn about $40,000 in your rehab counselor role after about four years of school and even find related experiences before you graduate to build up your resume.
| Rehabilitation Counselor Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $44,740 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $21.51 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 10% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Rehabilitation Counselor
6. Recreational Therapist
Why Become a Recreational Therapist?
A recreational therapist fills one of a variety of roles, including that of music, pediatric, or family therapist.
They might also play the role of a psychologist and use various “fun” means of helping people improve their lives.
Salary ranges vary according to the number of clients or whether you work full time or not.
You can make about $51,000 per year at a 7 percent need increase rate.
To prepare yourself for this role, you’ll want to volunteer or intern in counseling offices or at activity centers.
You could work for both adults and children and assist entire families.
A role you also could fill would be that of an elementary, junior high, or high school guidance counselor.
| Recreational Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $53,900 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $25.91 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 7% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Recreational Therapist
7. Reflexologist
Why Become a Reflexologist?
You’d literally be paid to get on people’s nerves.
Okay, that was a joke, but they do offer expertise in helping people improve themselves – mind, body, and spirit.
It focuses on homeopathic means of addressing various nerve receptors in the body to rehabilitate cognitive functioning.
Some methods you would apply originate from ancient Asian traditions.
Make about $89,000 per year, and you possibly could gain related experience before you complete only about a year of schooling.
Outlook for this position measures about 22 percent.
| Reflexologist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $53,900 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $25.91 |
| Education | 0-1 Year |
| Outlook | 22% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Reflexologist
8. Hypnotherapist
Why Become a Hypnotherapist?
You can use this alternative form of treatment to help people overcome smoking or to change their thought patterns.
This position could generate yearly revenue of about $87, 450 per year.
It does have a decent outlook of about a 14 percent need increase.
It does require up to four years of school, but that depends on what level you want to reach.
You will have a better chance of success if you look for related experience while still in school.
| Hypnotherapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $53,900 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $25.91 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 14% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Hypnotherapist
9. Pediatric Therapist
Why Become a Pediatric Therapist?
If you love being a part of children’s lives, this career could help you fulfill your need to be around them.
It offers you a chance to use your gift in interacting with them in other ways besides becoming a teacher.
There’s quite the need for it, according to the predicted 22 percent outlook.
Expect to earn about $86,000 per year depending on how many clients you have after about one or two years of schooling.
| Pediatric Therapist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $89,470 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.02 |
| Education | 2-3 Years |
| Outlook | 22% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Pediatric Therapist
