The average salary for a recreational therapist in the United States is around $61,960 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $61,960.
Wages typically start from $40,990 and go up to $100,420.
2% below national average Updated in 2025
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$48.28 per hour
$100,420 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$38.43 per hour
$79,930 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$29.79 per hour
$61,960 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$24.16 per hour
$50,240 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$19.71 per hour
$40,990 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Recreational therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,170 |
| District of Columbia | $95,640 |
| New Hampshire | $82,280 |
| Nevada | $78,730 |
| Washington | $77,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Colorado | $66,580 |
| Oregon | $66,530 |
| New York | $65,520 |
| Hawaii | $64,500 |
| Maryland | $64,300 |
| Vermont | $63,380 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 |
| Nebraska | $62,980 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 |
| Arizona | $62,610 |
| Texas | $62,490 |
| Michigan | $61,700 |
| Virginia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,770 |
| New Jersey | $60,400 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,940 |
| Missouri | $58,620 |
| North Dakota | $58,370 |
| Florida | $57,980 |
| Maine | $57,560 |
| Alabama | $57,360 |
| Utah | $56,640 |
| Iowa | $56,140 |
| Illinois | $54,910 |
| Indiana | $53,770 |
| Georgia | $52,010 |
| Tennessee | $51,910 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 |
| Delaware | $51,110 |
| Montana | $51,110 |
| North Carolina | $51,030 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 |
| Idaho | $49,720 |
| New Mexico | $49,210 |
| West Virginia | $49,010 |
| South Carolina | $48,880 |
| Wyoming | $48,170 |
| Rhode Island | $47,870 |
| South Dakota | $46,850 |
| Arkansas | $42,670 |
| Kansas | $40,010 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,360 |
How do recreational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Recreational therapists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than marriage and family therapists but more than mental health counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Marriage and family therapist salary | $67K |
| Health educator salary | $64K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $68K |
| Occupational therapy assistant salary | $72K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $60K |
| Art therapist salary | $62K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $62K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $63K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $65K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $59K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)