How people play, rest, and stay well is a real field of study, and it's yours to teach — training future leaders of parks, recreation, and leisure programs. Where the field of recreation gets taught.
The work runs on the academic calendar: lecturing, advising, supervising internships, and research, often with hands-on or community components. You bridge theory and real programs. The field is sometimes underestimated despite its real value, and research and teaching share your hours.
How much you research versus teach depends on the institution, and funding and enrollment shape the programs. Tenure pressure applies where research is expected, you defend the field's value at times, and keeping it practical and current takes work. Universities and applied programs differ.
It tends to suit people who are people-centered, energetic, and devoted to the field. If you want a hard-science discipline or pure research, it may not fit. But if shaping how communities play and stay well is your kind of impact, the work tends to be rewarding.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
How people play, rest, and stay well is a real field of study, and it's yours to teach — training future leaders of parks, recreation, and leisure programs. Where the field of recreation gets taught.
Median pay for a Recreation Professor is about $76K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $44K to $158K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Instructing, Speaking, Writing, Reading Comprehension, and Learning Strategies.
Most people in this role hold a professional degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 2.4% through 2034, with roughly 12,680 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Wellness Instructor, Fitness and Wellness Instructor, and Fitness Instructor.
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