The average salary for a recreational therapist in California is around $78,610 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $78,610.
Wages typically start from $38,180 and go up to $95,370.
8% below national average Updated in 2021
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$45.85 per hour
$95,370 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$43.43 per hour
$90,330 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$37.80 per hour
$78,610 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$23.43 per hour
$48,740 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$18.36 per hour
$38,180 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Recreational therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $78,610 |
| District of Columbia | $76,230 |
| New Jersey | $61,160 |
| Oregon | $60,190 |
| Connecticut | $59,770 |
| New York | $59,770 |
| Washington | $59,080 |
| Illinois | $57,970 |
| Hawaii | $55,000 |
| Texas | $54,410 |
| New Hampshire | $54,040 |
| Nebraska | $50,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,660 |
| Arizona | $48,380 |
| Maine | $48,350 |
| Wyoming | $48,170 |
| Minnesota | $47,940 |
| Rhode Island | $47,870 |
| Massachusetts | $47,850 |
| Idaho | $47,670 |
| Maryland | $47,610 |
| Michigan | $47,610 |
| Kentucky | $47,570 |
| Ohio | $47,360 |
| Nevada | $47,010 |
| Arkansas | $47,000 |
| Wisconsin | $47,000 |
| Virginia | $46,910 |
| North Carolina | $46,870 |
| Iowa | $46,730 |
| Missouri | $46,690 |
| South Carolina | $46,690 |
| Alabama | $46,660 |
| Colorado | $46,660 |
| Florida | $46,660 |
| Georgia | $46,640 |
| Louisiana | $46,640 |
| South Dakota | $46,330 |
| North Dakota | $42,090 |
| Montana | $41,900 |
| Tennessee | $38,840 |
| Vermont | $38,500 |
| Utah | $37,850 |
| Indiana | $37,840 |
| New Mexico | $37,240 |
| Oklahoma | $37,020 |
| Delaware | $36,990 |
| West Virginia | $36,710 |
| Mississippi | $29,730 |
| Kansas | $29,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,360 |
How do recreational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Recreational therapists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than registered dietitian but more than athletic trainers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered dietitian salary | $79K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $78K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $61K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $76K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $77K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $79K |
| Art therapist salary | $79K |
| Music therapist salary | $79K |
| Health educator salary | $61K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)