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Best states for a therapeutic recreation specialist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for therapeutic recreation specialists in the United States. Therapeutic recreation specialist 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 therapeutic recreation specialists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for therapeutic recreation specialists. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for therapeutic recreation specialists, and people in Pacifica earn the most in the field.
Alaska is the best state for jobs for therapeutic recreation specialists, and Rhode Island is the worst. The most common pay in Alaska is $59,238, while the median pay in Rhode Island is $34,460.If you are currently seeking employment as a therapeutic recreation specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for therapeutic recreation specialists in 2025
1. Alaska
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $59,238 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.94
2. North Dakota
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $51,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
3. Utah
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 163 Average annual salary: $51,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
4. New York
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 581 Average annual salary: $54,146 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
5. California
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 1,129 Average annual salary: $60,052 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. Maryland
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $53,251 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Pennsylvania
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 455 Average annual salary: $50,232 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
8. Arizona
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 318 Average annual salary: $45,443 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
9. Oregon
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $54,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
10. New Jersey
Total therapeutic recreation specialist jobs: 308 Average annual salary: $51,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
Therapeutic recreation specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a therapeutic recreation specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a therapeutic recreation specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $59,238 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $51,497 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 52 |
| 3 | Utah | $51,204 | $37,000 | 3,101,833 | 163 |
| 4 | New York | $54,146 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 581 |
| 5 | California | $60,052 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,129 |
| 6 | Maryland | $53,251 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 274 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $50,232 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 455 |
| 8 | Arizona | $45,443 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 318 |
| 9 | Oregon | $54,167 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 151 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $51,457 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 308 |
| 11 | Indiana | $46,502 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 246 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $49,482 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 80 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $45,884 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 74 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $47,397 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 67 |
| 15 | Idaho | $45,644 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 68 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $42,266 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 148 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $42,575 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 59 |
| 18 | Texas | $43,122 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 843 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $40,630 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 117 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $47,767 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 119 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $38,974 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 51 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,685 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 123 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,368 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 274 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $43,187 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 388 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,319 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 298 |
| 26 | Ohio | $42,732 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 338 |
| 27 | Nevada | $38,377 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 114 |
| 28 | Delaware | $40,059 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 63 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,572 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 401 |
| 30 | Alabama | $37,932 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 188 |
| 31 | Iowa | $36,767 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 240 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $41,073 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 59 |
| 33 | Montana | $39,278 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 47 |
| 34 | Maine | $40,520 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 33 |
| 35 | Vermont | $39,028 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 36 | Florida | $36,901 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 905 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $39,606 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 36 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $41,359 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 205 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $39,244 | $24,000 | 693,972 | 72 |
| 40 | Colorado | $38,110 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 248 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $35,316 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 137 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $37,783 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 121 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $35,849 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 176 |
| 44 | Illinois | $38,175 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 424 |
| 45 | Kansas | $34,563 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 135 |
| 46 | Georgia | $34,500 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 498 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $33,909 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 432 |
| 48 | Missouri | $37,504 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 203 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $34,402 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 216 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $34,187 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 201 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $34,460 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 37 |
Highest paying states for therapeutic recreation specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $59,238 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $51,497 |
| 3 | Utah | $51,204 |
| 4 | New York | $54,146 |
| 5 | California | $60,052 |
| 6 | Maryland | $53,251 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $50,232 |
| 8 | Arizona | $45,443 |
| 9 | Oregon | $54,167 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $51,457 |
| 11 | Indiana | $46,502 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $49,482 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $45,884 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $47,397 |
| 15 | Idaho | $45,644 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $42,266 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $42,575 |
| 18 | Texas | $43,122 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $40,630 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $47,767 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $38,974 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $39,685 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,368 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $43,187 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,319 |
| 26 | Ohio | $42,732 |
| 27 | Nevada | $38,377 |
| 28 | Delaware | $40,059 |
| 29 | Virginia | $41,572 |
| 30 | Alabama | $37,932 |
| 31 | Iowa | $36,767 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $41,073 |
| 33 | Montana | $39,278 |
| 34 | Maine | $40,520 |
| 35 | Vermont | $39,028 |
| 36 | Florida | $36,901 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $39,606 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $41,359 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $39,244 |
| 40 | Colorado | $38,110 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $35,316 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $37,783 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $35,849 |
| 44 | Illinois | $38,175 |
| 45 | Kansas | $34,563 |
| 46 | Georgia | $34,500 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $33,909 |
| 48 | Missouri | $37,504 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $34,402 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $34,187 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $34,460 |
Therapeutic recreation specialist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025