Recreational Therapists Salary

BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 48 reporting states. Tax year 2026.

Quick answer

According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median recreational therapists in the US earns $61,960 per year (14,930 employed). Gross pay is highest in California ($98,170) and lowest in Mississippi ($39,560) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.

Recreational Therapists pay by stategross median vs take-home

State	Median wage	After taxes	Monthly net	Kept	Employed
Recreational Therapists in California	$98,170	$72,992	$6,083	74.4%	1,920
Recreational Therapists in Washington DC	$95,640	$70,952	$5,913	74.2%	50
Recreational Therapists in New Hampshire	$82,280	$66,714	$5,560	81.1%	70
Recreational Therapists in Nevada	$78,730	$64,217	$5,351	81.6%	400
Recreational Therapists in Washington	$77,860	$63,605	$5,300	81.7%	240
Recreational Therapists in Minnesota	$76,360	$58,880	$4,907	77.1%	250
Recreational Therapists in Colorado	$66,580	$53,448	$4,454	80.3%	200
Recreational Therapists in Oregon	$66,530	$50,642	$4,220	76.1%	250
Recreational Therapists in New York	$65,520	$51,884	$4,324	79.2%	1,230
Recreational Therapists in Hawaii	$64,500	$50,634	$4,219	78.5%	40
Recreational Therapists in Maryland	$64,300	$51,154	$4,263	79.6%	290
Recreational Therapists in Vermont	$63,380	$51,383	$4,282	81.1%	40
Recreational Therapists in Connecticut	$63,240	$51,073	$4,256	80.8%	380
Recreational Therapists in Nebraska	$62,980	$50,798	$4,233	80.7%	150
Recreational Therapists in Massachusetts	$62,820	$49,735	$4,145	79.2%	210
Recreational Therapists in Arizona	$62,610	$51,131	$4,261	81.7%	170
Recreational Therapists in Texas	$62,490	$52,391	$4,366	83.8%	800
Recreational Therapists in Michigan	$61,700	$49,384	$4,115	80%	590
Recreational Therapists in Virginia	$61,270	$48,702	$4,058	79.5%	570
Recreational Therapists in Ohio	$60,770	$50,120	$4,177	82.5%	310
Recreational Therapists in New Jersey	$60,400	$48,921	$4,077	81%	430
Recreational Therapists in Wisconsin	$59,350	$48,037	$4,003	80.9%	350
Recreational Therapists in Kentucky	$59,240	$47,824	$3,985	80.7%	100
Recreational Therapists in Pennsylvania	$58,940	$47,729	$3,977	81%	720
Recreational Therapists in Missouri	$58,620	$47,463	$3,955	81%	140
Recreational Therapists in North Dakota	$58,370	$49,080	$4,090	84.1%	80
Recreational Therapists in Florida	$57,980	$48,767	$4,064	84.1%	640
Recreational Therapists in Maine	$57,560	$45,726	$3,810	79.4%	40
Recreational Therapists in Alabama	$57,360	$45,666	$3,805	79.6%	160
Recreational Therapists in Utah	$56,640	$45,141	$3,762	79.7%	210
Recreational Therapists in Iowa	$56,140	$45,807	$3,817	81.6%	230
Recreational Therapists in Illinois	$54,910	$43,727	$3,644	79.6%	440
Recreational Therapists in Indiana	$53,770	$43,828	$3,652	81.5%	190
Recreational Therapists in Georgia	$52,010	$41,894	$3,491	80.5%	530
Recreational Therapists in Tennessee	$51,910	$43,890	$3,657	84.5%	150
Recreational Therapists in Louisiana	$51,150	$42,131	$3,511	82.4%	190
Recreational Therapists in Delaware	$51,110	$41,087	$3,424	80.4%	70
Recreational Therapists in Montana	$51,110	$41,601	$3,467	81.4%	40
Recreational Therapists in North Carolina	$51,030	$41,655	$3,471	81.6%	440
Recreational Therapists in Oklahoma	$50,480	$41,015	$3,418	81.2%	120
Recreational Therapists in Idaho	$49,720	$40,603	$3,384	81.7%	90
Recreational Therapists in New Mexico	$49,210	$40,572	$3,381	82.4%	100
Recreational Therapists in West Virginia	$49,010	$40,083	$3,340	81.8%	130
Recreational Therapists in South Carolina	$48,880	$39,679	$3,307	81.2%	190
Recreational Therapists in South Dakota	$46,850	$39,824	$3,319	85%	40
Recreational Therapists in Arkansas	$42,670	$35,014	$2,918	82.1%	70
Recreational Therapists in Kansas	$40,010	$32,895	$2,741	82.2%	710
Recreational Therapists in Mississippi	$39,560	$33,116	$2,760	83.7%	140

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