Best cities for a recreation therapist
The best cities for recreation therapists are Stockton, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and Fresno, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for recreation therapists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for recreation therapists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a recreation therapist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for recreation therapists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for recreation therapists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a recreation therapist. While the absolute best city for recreation therapists is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for recreation therapists in 2024.
If you're looking for a recreation therapist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for recreation therapists in 2025
1. Stockton, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $101,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 13.80 2. Bakersfield, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $98,928 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 3.87 3. Fresno, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $100,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 2.50 4. Long Beach, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $94,702 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 2.29 5. Chula Vista, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $90,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 7.29 6. Fort Wayne, IN
Total recreation therapist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $59,528 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 3.01 7. Las Vegas, NV
Total recreation therapist jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $69,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 2.68 8. Los Angeles, CA
Total recreation therapist jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $95,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.90 9. Henderson, NV
Total recreation therapist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $69,251 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 2.52 10. Scottsdale, AZ
Total recreation therapist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $58,000 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 2.69
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Best cities for recreation therapists
- Stockton, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- (14 recreation therapist jobs)
- (5 recreation therapist jobs)
- (4 recreation therapist jobs)
- (4 recreation therapist jobs)
- (3 recreation therapist jobs)
- (5 recreation therapist jobs)
- (18 recreation therapist jobs)
- (22 recreation therapist jobs)
- (2 recreation therapist jobs)
- (8 recreation therapist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a recreation therapist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $101,998 | $62,000 | 307,072 | 14 |
| 2 | Bakersfield, CA | $98,928 | $61,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $100,715 | $62,000 | 522,053 | 4 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $94,702 | $59,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 5 | Chula Vista, CA | $90,048 | $57,000 | 267,172 | 3 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,528 | $36,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,508 | $43,000 | 632,912 | 18 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,572 | $59,000 | 3,976,322 | 22 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $69,251 | $43,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 10 | Scottsdale, AZ | $58,000 | $36,000 | 246,645 | 8 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $90,724 | $57,000 | 1,406,630 | 21 |
| 12 | Mesa, AZ | $57,429 | $36,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 13 | San Francisco, CA | $102,779 | $63,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 14 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,820 | $35,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 15 | Gilbert, AZ | $57,282 | $36,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,931 | $36,000 | 1,615,017 | 15 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,351 | $36,000 | 855,164 | 7 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $61,535 | $39,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 19 | Anchorage, AK | $74,313 | $60,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $102,311 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 21 | Sacramento, CA | $102,039 | $62,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 22 | Oakland, CA | $102,633 | $63,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 23 | Fremont, CA | $102,426 | $63,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 24 | Arlington, TX | $55,758 | $35,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $78,306 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,961 | $31,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,380 | $31,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $94,642 | $59,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 29 | Omaha, NE | $62,544 | $41,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 30 | Riverside, CA | $94,453 | $59,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $94,343 | $59,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $55,682 | $34,000 | 1,317,929 | 11 |
| 33 | Irvine, CA | $94,068 | $59,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 34 | New York, NY | $62,461 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 71 |
| 35 | Reno, NV | $72,959 | $44,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $69,368 | $43,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $66,876 | $43,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 38 | Lubbock, TX | $57,340 | $36,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $57,310 | $36,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Lincoln, NE | $62,440 | $41,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 41 | Glendale, AZ | $57,925 | $36,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $55,661 | $35,000 | 286,057 | 2 |
| 43 | Austin, TX | $55,257 | $34,000 | 947,890 | 5 |
| 44 | Houston, TX | $54,696 | $33,000 | 2,303,482 | 11 |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $60,302 | $34,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 46 | Chandler, AZ | $57,325 | $36,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 47 | Detroit, MI | $53,877 | $32,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 48 | Cleveland, OH | $52,493 | $31,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 49 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,265 | $33,000 | 413,651 | 10 |
| 50 | San Antonio, TX | $55,096 | $34,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for recreation therapists
| Rank | City | Avg. recreation therapist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $102,779 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $78,306 |
| 3 | Orem, UT | $72,436 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,508 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $67,609 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $62,461 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $60,554 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $60,344 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $58,000 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,820 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,961 |
| 12 | Waterford, MI | $53,737 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $52,043 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,265 |
| 15 | Petersburg, VA | $50,169 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $49,260 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $48,376 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $47,833 |
| 19 | Rochester, NH | $46,374 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $46,345 |
Recreation therapist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025