The average salary for a recreational therapist in Illinois is around $54,910 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $54,910.
Wages typically start from $40,560 and go up to $86,190.
18% below national average Updated in 2025
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$41.44 per hour
$86,190 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$31.31 per hour
$65,120 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$26.40 per hour
$54,910 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$23.89 per hour
$49,700 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$19.50 per hour
$40,560 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 Illinois. On average, they make less than healthcare social workers but more than rehabilitation counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare social worker salary | $64K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $60K |
| Occupational therapy assistant salary | $64K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $63K |
| Massage therapist salary | $60K |
| Art therapist salary | $55K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $55K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $50K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $50K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)