Recreational Therapist salary in the U.S.
Recreational Therapists in the U.S. earn a median of $61,960 a year ($29.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,420 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $67,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for recreational therapists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 25th percentile | $50,240 | $24.16 |
| Median | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| 75th percentile | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Average (mean) | $67,630 | $32.52 |
Half of recreational therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,163.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,581.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,383.08 |
| Weekly | $1,191.54 |
| Hourly | $29.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Recreational Therapist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $98,170 | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $95,640 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $82,280 | 70 |
| Nevada | $78,730 | 400 |
| Washington | $77,860 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 | 250 |
| Colorado | $66,580 | 200 |
| Oregon | $66,530 | 250 |
| New York | $65,520 | 1,230 |
| Hawaii | $64,500 | 40 |
| Maryland | $64,300 | 290 |
| Vermont | $63,380 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $62,980 | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 | 210 |
| Arizona | $62,610 | 170 |
| Texas | $62,490 | 800 |
| Michigan | $61,700 | 590 |
| Virginia | $61,270 | 570 |
| Ohio | $60,770 | 310 |
| New Jersey | $60,400 | 430 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 | 350 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,940 | 720 |
| Missouri | $58,620 | 140 |
| North Dakota | $58,370 | 80 |
| Florida | $57,980 | 640 |
| Maine | $57,560 | 40 |
| Alabama | $57,360 | 160 |
| Utah | $56,640 | 210 |
| Iowa | $56,140 | 230 |
| Illinois | $54,910 | 440 |
| Indiana | $53,770 | 190 |
| Georgia | $52,010 | 530 |
| Tennessee | $51,910 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 | 190 |
| Delaware | $51,110 | 70 |
| Montana | $51,110 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $51,030 | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 | 120 |
| Idaho | $49,720 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $49,210 | 100 |
| West Virginia | $49,010 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $48,880 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $46,850 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $42,670 | 70 |
| Kansas | $40,010 | 710 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 | 140 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,140 | 80 |
Best-paying metro areas for recreational therapists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $115,330 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,330 | 50 |
| Napa, CA | $107,810 | 150 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,420 | 190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,670 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,530 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,160 | 150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,120 | 340 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,790 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,740 | 380 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,660 | 140 |
| Mankato, MN | $81,950 | 30 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $78,730 | 340 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,980 | 150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $72,390 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most recreational therapists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,090 | $66,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 380 | $91,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 380 | $71,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 360 | $58,970 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 340 | $54,460 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 340 | $78,730 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 340 | $98,120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 260 | $60,640 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 230 | $62,600 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 210 | $45,270 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 190 | $58,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 190 | $102,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 180 | $63,390 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 170 | $63,950 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 160 | $64,700 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1125. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreational therapist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for recreational therapists in the U.S. is $61,960 a year, or $29.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid recreational therapists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of recreational therapists in the U.S. earn at least $100,420 a year. The top 25% earn $79,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for recreational therapists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,990 a year, and a quarter of recreational therapists earn $50,240 or less.
How many recreational therapists work in the U.S.?
About 14,930 recreational therapists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.