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Recreation therapist salary
Average recreation therapist salary
$55,992
Average Recreation Therapist Salary Overview
The average salary for a Recreation Therapist in the United States is approximately $55,992 per year, translating to about $27 per hour. This figure varies significantly depending on location, experience, and specific employer. For instance, Recreation Therapists in states such as California and New York often earn higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other regions.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors contribute to salary differences among Recreation Therapists:
- Geographic Location: Salaries can differ greatly from state to state.
- Experience Level: More experienced therapists typically command higher wages.
- Field of Specialization: Specific areas of focus may offer different pay scales.
By understanding these dynamics, professionals in the field can make informed decisions regarding their career paths. For those considering a career in recreation therapy, knowing this information is crucial for setting realistic salary expectations.
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Where can a Recreation Therapist earn more?
Recreation therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average recreation therapist salary by state
The highest-paying states for recreation therapists are California, Oregon, and Alaska. The lowest average recreation therapist salary states are Vermont, Florida, and Delaware.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for recreation therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $96,896 | $46.58 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $64,206 | $30.87 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $62,454 | $30.03 |
| 4 | Washington | $66,282 | $31.87 |
| 5 | Oregon | $79,290 | $38.12 |
| 6 | Indiana | $58,511 | $28.13 |
| 7 | Nevada | $69,983 | $33.65 |
| 8 | Utah | $72,303 | $34.76 |
| 9 | Idaho | $63,736 | $30.64 |
| 10 | Alaska | $73,401 | $35.29 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $63,894 | $30.72 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $60,504 | $29.09 |
| 13 | Texas | $55,433 | $26.65 |
| 14 | New York | $61,936 | $29.78 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $53,916 | $25.92 |
| 16 | Maryland | $60,374 | $29.03 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $60,626 | $29.15 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $54,439 | $26.17 |
| 19 | Arizona | $57,413 | $27.60 |
| 20 | Alabama | $51,686 | $24.85 |
| 21 | Michigan | $53,725 | $25.83 |
| 22 | Colorado | $51,312 | $24.67 |
| 23 | Ohio | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $48,432 | $23.28 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $57,806 | $27.79 |
| 26 | Montana | $49,707 | $23.90 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $49,819 | $23.95 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $49,553 | $23.82 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $48,013 | $23.08 |
| 30 | Missouri | $49,428 | $23.76 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $51,593 | $24.80 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $51,232 | $24.63 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| 34 | Virginia | $50,613 | $24.33 |
| 35 | Kansas | $45,512 | $21.88 |
| 36 | Iowa | $46,059 | $22.14 |
| 37 | Georgia | $46,282 | $22.25 |
| 38 | Maine | $46,316 | $22.27 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $46,857 | $22.53 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $50,049 | $24.06 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $49,002 | $23.56 |
| 42 | Illinois | $47,329 | $22.75 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| 44 | Delaware | $45,557 | $21.90 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $48,164 | $23.16 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | $42,143 | $20.26 |
| 48 | Florida | $45,683 | $21.96 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $44,723 | $21.50 |
| 50 | Vermont | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $41,536 | $19.97 |
Highest paying cities for recreation therapists
The highest-paying cities for recreation therapists are San Francisco, CA, Portland, OR, and Orem, UT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $102,779 | $49.41 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $78,306 | $37.65 |
| 3 | Orem, UT | $72,436 | $34.83 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $69,508 | $33.42 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $67,609 | $32.50 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $62,461 | $30.03 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $60,554 | $29.11 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $60,344 | $29.01 |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| 10 | Fort Worth, TX | $55,820 | $26.84 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,961 | $26.42 |
| 12 | Waterford, MI | $53,737 | $25.84 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $52,043 | $25.02 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,265 | $24.65 |
| 15 | Petersburg, VA | $50,169 | $24.12 |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $48,376 | $23.26 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $47,833 | $23.00 |
| 19 | Rochester, NH | $46,374 | $22.30 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $46,345 | $22.28 |
Recreation therapist salary details
A recreation therapist's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a recreation therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| Average | $55,992 | $4,666 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying recreation therapist jobs
The highest paying types of recreation therapists are director of therapeutic activities, rehabilitation therapist, and certified recreational therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Coordinator | $41,699 | $3,475 | $20.05 | 19,510 |
| Music Therapy Internship | $36,844 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 111,846 |
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| Staff Therapist | $52,147 | $4,346 | $25.07 | 101,575 |
| Recreation Coordinator | $40,777 | $3,398 | $19.60 | 19,008 |
| Activity Therapist | $54,001 | $4,500 | $25.96 | 25,092 |
Top companies hiring recreation therapists now:
Which companies pay recreation therapists the most?
Recreation therapist salaries at Cottage Health and Mission Regional Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recreation therapist salary at companies like Dignity Health and University of Maryland Medical System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cottage Health | $107,235 | $51.56 |
| 2 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $97,749 | $46.99 |
| 3 | Dignity Health | $96,605 | $46.44 |
| 4 | University of Maryland Medical System | $96,006 | $46.16 |
| 5 | St. Mary's Health Inc. | $87,748 | $42.19 |
| 6 | Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare | $86,200 | $41.44 |
| 7 | Commonwealth | $82,951 | $39.88 |
| 8 | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | $82,436 | $39.63 |
| 9 | Great Plains Regional Medical Center | $79,925 | $38.43 |
| 10 | Houston Healthcare | $76,534 | $36.80 |
| 11 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $76,426 | $36.74 |
| 12 | Huntington Hospital | $75,485 | $36.29 |
| 13 | Southwest General | $75,115 | $36.11 |
| 14 | Methodist Health System | $75,027 | $36.07 |
| 15 | Health Alliance | $74,224 | $35.68 |
| 16 | Geisinger Medical Center | $73,170 | $35.18 |
| 17 | Southern California Hospitals | $72,856 | $35.03 |
| 18 | Virginia Hospital Center | $71,917 | $34.58 |
| 19 | Appalachian Regional Healthcare | $71,441 | $34.35 |
| 20 | Catholic Health East | $71,157 | $34.21 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Recreation therapist salary trends
The average recreation therapist salary has risen by $7,804 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recreation therapist earned $48,188 annually, but today, they earn $55,992 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for recreation therapists over the last decade.
Compare recreation therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average recreation therapist salary over time
Compare recreation therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recreation therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,000 | $26.92 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | $56,600 | $27.21 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | $56,200 | $27.00 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | $56,000 | $26.90 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $54,500 | $26.19 | +1.1% |
Recently added recreation therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Medical Health System | Recreation Therapist II: E2 (Inpatient Psychiatry), , Days | Albany, NY | 06/29/2025 | $47,922 |
| Hillside Enterprises | Recreation Therapist | Rochester, NY | 06/29/2025 | $40,613 |
| ATC Healthcare | Corrections Recreational Therapist | Whitmore Lake, MI | 06/29/2025 | $54,262 |
| Adena Health System Inc. | Recreational Therapist | Greenfield, OH | 06/27/2025 | $48,460 |
| Maricopa Integrated Health System | Recreation Therapist | Phoenix, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $44,537 |
| St. John's Episcopal Hospital | Activities Recreation Therapist T | Fine, NY | 06/25/2025 | $68,245 |
| Health Advocates Network | New Recreational Therapist | Lancaster, CA | 06/25/2025 | $121,046 |
| University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore Washington | Therapeutic Recreation Therapist 4, Comprehensive Medical Rehab Unit | Baltimore, MD | 06/25/2025 | $60,147 |
| River Valley Behavioral Health | Recreational Therapist-Birch Hospital | Owensboro, KY | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Kaweah Health | Per Diem Recreation Therapist | Visalia, CA | 06/24/2025 | $52,759 |
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