Recreational Therapist Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$61,960
$29.79/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 25th percentile | $50,240 | $24.16 |
| Median | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| 75th percentile | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 90th percentile | $100,420 | $48.28 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 14,930
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| California | ||
| 1st | $98,170 | $88,665 1st |
| District of Columbia | ||
| 2nd | $95,640 | $87,024 2nd |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 3rd | $82,280 | $78,990 3rd |
| Nevada | ||
| 4th | $78,730 | $78,747 4th |
| Washington | ||
| 5th | $77,860 | $72,758 6th |
| Minnesota | ||
| 6th | $76,360 | $77,428 5th |
| Colorado | ||
| 7th | $66,580 | $64,608 12th |
| Oregon | ||
| 8th | $66,530 | $64,367 16th |
| New York | ||
| 9th | $65,520 | $60,711 23rd |
| Hawaii | ||
| 10th | $64,500 | $58,662 28th |
| Maryland | ||
| 11th | $64,300 | $61,262 21st |
| Vermont | ||
| 12th | $63,380 | $64,701 11th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 13th | $63,240 | $61,037 22nd |
| Nebraska | ||
| 14th | $62,980 | $69,898 7th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 15th | $62,820 | $59,400 26th |
| Arizona | ||
| 16th | $62,610 | $62,189 20th |
| Texas | ||
| 17th | $62,490 | $64,385 15th |
| Michigan | ||
| 18th | $61,700 | $64,126 17th |
| Virginia | ||
| 19th | $61,270 | $60,601 24th |
| Ohio | ||
| 20th | $60,770 | $65,503 10th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 21st | $60,400 | $55,512 35th |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 22nd | $59,350 | $63,075 19th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 23rd | $59,240 | $65,706 8th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 24th | $58,940 | $60,407 25th |
| Missouri | ||
| 25th | $58,620 | $64,547 14th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 26th | $58,370 | $65,614 9th |
| Florida | ||
| 27th | $57,980 | $56,066 34th |
| Maine | ||
| 28th | $57,560 | $59,310 27th |
| Alabama | ||
| 29th | $57,360 | $64,578 13th |
| Utah | ||
| 30th | $56,640 | $57,291 32nd |
| Iowa | ||
| 31st | $56,140 | $63,968 18th |
| Illinois | ||
| 32nd | $54,910 | $54,933 36th |
| Indiana | ||
| 33rd | $53,770 | $57,613 30th |
| Georgia | ||
| 34th | $52,010 | $54,012 39th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 35th | $51,910 | $56,504 33rd |
| Louisiana | ||
| 36th | $51,150 | $57,989 29th |
| Delaware | ||
| 37th | $51,110 | $51,208 45th |
| Montana | ||
| 37th | $51,110 | $54,002 40th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 39th | $51,030 | $54,100 38th |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 40th | $50,480 | $57,466 31st |
| Idaho | ||
| 41st | $49,720 | $52,066 44th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 42nd | $49,210 | $53,366 41st |
| West Virginia | ||
| 43rd | $49,010 | $54,762 37th |
| South Carolina | ||
| 44th | $48,880 | $52,139 43rd |
| South Dakota | ||
| 45th | $46,850 | $52,886 42nd |
| Arkansas | ||
| 46th | $42,670 | $49,082 46th |
| Kansas | ||
| 47th | $40,010 | $44,422 48th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 48th | $39,560 | $45,496 47th |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in the U.S.
$72,300/year U.S.
- Psychiatric Technician salary in the U.S.
$45,130/year U.S.
- Occupational Therapist salary in the U.S.
$100,330/year U.S.
- Occupational Therapy Aide salary in the U.S.
$39,160/year U.S.
- Physical Therapist salary in the U.S.
$102,760/year U.S.
- Physical Therapist Aide salary in the U.S.
$35,240/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +4.8%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Bachelor's degree
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated