Best states for a recreation therapist

Q: What is the best state for recreation therapists?

The best state to be a recreation therapist is California based on recreation therapist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for recreation therapists?

The highest paying state for recreation therapists is Rhode Island based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for recreation therapists?

The worst state for recreation therapists is Rhode Island, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for recreation therapists in the United States. Recreation therapist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for recreation therapists.In order to help you decide which state is the best for recreation therapists, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for recreation therapist jobs.

California is the best state for jobs for recreation therapists, and Rhode Island is the worst. The most common pay in California is $96,896, while the median pay in Rhode Island is $41,536.If you are currently seeking employment as a recreation therapist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for recreation therapists in 2025

1. California
Total recreation therapist jobs: 4,059
Average annual salary: $96,896
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Recreation therapist jobs in California
2. North Dakota
Total recreation therapist jobs: 163
Average annual salary: $64,206
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.69
Recreation therapist jobs in North Dakota
3. Nebraska
Total recreation therapist jobs: 326
Average annual salary: $62,454
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Recreation therapist jobs in Nebraska
4. Washington
Total recreation therapist jobs: 996
Average annual salary: $66,282
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Recreation therapist jobs in Washington
5. Oregon
Total recreation therapist jobs: 423
Average annual salary: $79,290
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Recreation therapist jobs in Oregon
6. Indiana
Total recreation therapist jobs: 969
Average annual salary: $58,511
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.42
Recreation therapist jobs in Indiana
7. Nevada
Total recreation therapist jobs: 217
Average annual salary: $69,983
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1
Recreation therapist jobs in Nevada
8. Utah
Total recreation therapist jobs: 273
Average annual salary: $72,303
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
0.82
Recreation therapist jobs in Utah
9. Idaho
Total recreation therapist jobs: 188
Average annual salary: $63,736
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Recreation therapist jobs in Idaho
10. Alaska
Total recreation therapist jobs: 28
Average annual salary: $73,401
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
0.32
Recreation therapist jobs in Alaska

Recreation therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a recreation therapist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a recreation therapist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$96,896	$60,000	39,536,653	4,059
2	North Dakota	$64,206	$42,000	755,393	163
3	Nebraska	$62,454	$41,000	1,920,076	326
4	Washington	$66,282	$43,000	7,405,743	996
5	Oregon	$79,290	$51,000	4,142,776	423
6	Indiana	$58,511	$36,000	6,666,818	969
7	Nevada	$69,983	$43,000	2,998,039	217
8	Utah	$72,303	$46,000	3,101,833	273
9	Idaho	$63,736	$41,000	1,716,943	188
10	Alaska	$73,401	$59,000	739,795	28
11	Mississippi	$63,894	$40,000	2,984,100	42
12	New Jersey	$60,504	$35,000	9,005,644	964
13	Texas	$55,433	$34,000	28,304,596	2,702
14	New York	$61,936	$36,000	19,849,399	1,297
15	Arkansas	$53,916	$34,000	3,004,279	324
16	Maryland	$60,374	$35,000	6,052,177	735
17	New Mexico	$60,626	$38,000	2,088,070	25
18	Pennsylvania	$54,439	$31,000	12,805,537	1,286
19	Arizona	$57,413	$36,000	7,016,270	103
20	Alabama	$51,686	$32,000	4,874,747	539
21	Michigan	$53,725	$32,000	9,962,311	757
22	Colorado	$51,312	$34,000	5,607,154	849
23	Ohio	$51,650	$31,000	11,658,609	1,067
24	South Carolina	$48,432	$29,000	5,024,369	638
25	Connecticut	$57,806	$33,000	3,588,184	17
26	Montana	$49,707	$33,000	1,050,493	164
27	Oklahoma	$49,819	$32,000	3,930,864	400
28	Kentucky	$49,553	$31,000	4,454,189	412
29	Hawaii	$48,013	$40,000	1,427,538	128
30	Missouri	$49,428	$32,000	6,113,532	771
31	West Virginia	$51,593	$31,000	1,815,857	7
32	Minnesota	$51,232	$33,000	5,576,606	507
33	Wyoming	$50,650	$33,000	579,315	18
34	Virginia	$50,613	$29,000	8,470,020	1,084
35	Kansas	$45,512	$30,000	2,913,123	435
36	Iowa	$46,059	$30,000	3,145,711	496
37	Georgia	$46,282	$28,000	10,429,379	1,494
38	Maine	$46,316	$27,000	1,335,907	175
39	Tennessee	$46,857	$29,000	6,715,984	673
40	Louisiana	$50,049	$31,000	4,684,333	29
41	South Dakota	$49,002	$32,000	869,666	16
42	Illinois	$47,329	$29,000	12,802,023	1,592
43	North Carolina	$47,360	$28,000	10,273,419	987
44	Delaware	$45,557	$26,000	961,939	149
45	New Hampshire	$48,164	$28,000	1,342,795	14
46	Massachusetts	$48,930	$28,000	6,859,819	157
47	Wisconsin	$42,143	$26,000	5,795,483	662
48	Florida	$45,683	$27,000	20,984,400	184
49	District of Columbia	$44,723	$26,000	693,972	99
50	Vermont	$45,950	$27,000	623,657	2
51	Rhode Island	$41,536	$24,000	1,059,639	10

Highest paying states for recreation therapists

Rank	State	Avg. Recreation Therapist Salary
1	California	$96,896
2	North Dakota	$64,206
3	Nebraska	$62,454
4	Washington	$66,282
5	Oregon	$79,290
6	Indiana	$58,511
7	Nevada	$69,983
8	Utah	$72,303
9	Idaho	$63,736
10	Alaska	$73,401
11	Mississippi	$63,894
12	New Jersey	$60,504
13	Texas	$55,433
14	New York	$61,936
15	Arkansas	$53,916
16	Maryland	$60,374
17	New Mexico	$60,626
18	Pennsylvania	$54,439
19	Arizona	$57,413
20	Alabama	$51,686
21	Michigan	$53,725
22	Colorado	$51,312
23	Ohio	$51,650
24	South Carolina	$48,432
25	Connecticut	$57,806
26	Montana	$49,707
27	Oklahoma	$49,819
28	Kentucky	$49,553
29	Hawaii	$48,013
30	Missouri	$49,428
31	West Virginia	$51,593
32	Minnesota	$51,232
33	Wyoming	$50,650
34	Virginia	$50,613
35	Kansas	$45,512
36	Iowa	$46,059
37	Georgia	$46,282
38	Maine	$46,316
39	Tennessee	$46,857
40	Louisiana	$50,049
41	South Dakota	$49,002
42	Illinois	$47,329
43	North Carolina	$47,360
44	Delaware	$45,557
45	New Hampshire	$48,164
46	Massachusetts	$48,930
47	Wisconsin	$42,143
48	Florida	$45,683
49	District of Columbia	$44,723
50	Vermont	$45,950
51	Rhode Island	$41,536

Expert opinions on the best states for recreation therapists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for recreation therapists to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, Agnes Scott College
Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.

Recreation therapist best states FAQs

What is the best state for recreation therapists?

What is the highest paying state for recreation therapists?

What is the worst state for recreation therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Recreation Therapist
Best states for Recreation Therapists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total recreation therapist jobs:	4,059
Average annual salary:	$96,896
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$154,000
Location Quotient:	1.34

Best states for a recreation therapist

10 best states for recreation therapists in 2025

1. California

2. North Dakota

3. Nebraska

4. Washington

5. Oregon

6. Indiana

7. Nevada

8. Utah

9. Idaho

10. Alaska