How much does a recreational therapist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $29.79 an hour or $5,163 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.79
- Average (mean)
- $67,630
- Jobs
- 14,930
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,990 | $19.71 | |
| 25th | $50,240 | $24.15 | |
| Median | $61,960 | $29.79 | |
| 75th | $79,930 | $38.43 | |
| 90th | $100,400 | $48.28 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $98,170 |
| District of Columbia | $95,640 |
| New Hampshire | $82,280 |
| Nevada | $78,730 |
| Washington | $77,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Colorado | $66,580 |
| Oregon | $66,530 |
| New York | $65,520 |
| Hawaii | $64,500 |
| Maryland | $64,300 |
| Vermont | $63,380 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 |
| Nebraska | $62,980 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 |
| Arizona | $62,610 |
| Texas | $62,490 |
| Michigan | $61,700 |
| Virginia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,770 |
| New Jersey | $60,400 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,940 |
| Missouri | $58,620 |
| North Dakota | $58,370 |
| Florida | $57,980 |
| Maine | $57,560 |
| Alabama | $57,360 |
| Utah | $56,640 |
| Iowa | $56,140 |
| Illinois | $54,910 |
| Indiana | $53,770 |
| Georgia | $52,010 |
| Tennessee | $51,910 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 |
| Delaware | $51,110 |
| Montana | $51,110 |
| North Carolina | $51,030 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 |
| Idaho | $49,720 |
| New Mexico | $49,210 |
| West Virginia | $49,010 |
| South Carolina | $48,880 |
| South Dakota | $46,850 |
| Arkansas | $42,670 |
| Kansas | $40,010 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Stockton, CA | $115,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,300 |
| Napa, CA | $107,800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $101,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $98,530 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,160 |
| Riverside, CA | $98,120 |
| Sacramento, CA | $91,790 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $91,740 |
| Seattle, WA | $82,660 |
| Mankato, MN | $81,950 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $78,730 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $73,980 |
| Portland, OR | $72,390 |
In other countries
Recreational Therapist belongs to the international group "Health professionals not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Occupational Therapist$100,300
- Physical Therapist$102,800
- Radiation Therapist$105,300
- Respiratory Therapist$82,280
- Speech-Language Pathologist$97,870
- Exercise Physiologist$59,460
- Therapist$77,930
- Veterinarian$130,100
- Registered Nurse$97,550
- Nurse Anesthetist$236,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreational therapist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $29.79 ($61,960 a year).
How much does a recreational therapist make a month?
About $5,163 a month before tax, based on a median of $61,960 a year.
How much does a recreational therapist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,990 or less a year ($19.71 an hour); the top 10% make $100,400 or more.
Which state pays recreational therapists the most?
California, with a median of $98,170 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($95,640) and New Hampshire ($82,280).
Which city pays recreational therapists the most?
Stockton-Lodi, CA, with a median of $115,300 a year.
How many recreational therapists are there in the United States?
About 14,930 people work as recreational therapists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.