SOC 29-1125 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Recreational Therapists

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$61,960

U.S. median hourly wage$29.79

U.S. employment14,930

Nationally, recreational therapists earned a median of $61,960 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 14,930 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Recreational Therapists: pay and employment by state
State
California	$98,170	$47.20	1,920	0.1
District of Columbia	$95,640	$45.98	50	0.1
New Hampshire	$82,280	$39.56	70	0.1
Nevada	$78,730	$37.85	400	0.3
Washington	$77,860	$37.44	240	0.1
Minnesota	$76,360	$36.71	250	0.1
Colorado	$66,580	$32.01	200	0.1
Oregon	$66,530	$31.99	250	0.1
New York	$65,520	$31.50	1,230	0.1
Hawaii	$64,500	$31.01	40	0.1
Maryland	$64,300	$30.91	290	0.1
Vermont	$63,380	$30.47	40	0.1
Connecticut	$63,240	$30.40	380	0.2
Nebraska	$62,980	$30.28	150	0.2
Massachusetts	$62,820	$30.20	210	0.1
Arizona	$62,610	$30.10	170	0.1
Texas	$62,490	$30.04	800	0.1
Michigan	$61,700	$29.66	590	0.1
Virginia	$61,270	$29.46	570	0.1
Ohio	$60,770	$29.22	310	0.1
New Jersey	$60,400	$29.04	430	0.1
Wisconsin	$59,350	$28.54	350	0.1
Kentucky	$59,240	$28.48	100	0.0
Pennsylvania	$58,940	$28.34	720	0.1
Missouri	$58,620	$28.18	140	0.0
North Dakota	$58,370	$28.06	80	0.2
Florida	$57,980	$27.87	640	0.1
Maine	$57,560	$27.67	40	0.1
Alabama	$57,360	$27.58	160	0.1
Utah	$56,640	$27.23	210	0.1
Iowa	$56,140	$26.99	230	0.1
Illinois	$54,910	$26.40	440	0.1
Indiana	$53,770	$25.85	190	0.1
Georgia	$52,010	$25.00	530	0.1
Tennessee	$51,910	$24.96	150	0.0
Louisiana	$51,150	$24.59	190	0.1
Delaware	$51,110	$24.57	70	0.2
Montana	$51,110	$24.57	40	0.1
North Carolina	$51,030	$24.53	440	0.1
Oklahoma	$50,480	$24.27	120	0.1
Idaho	$49,720	$23.90	90	0.1
New Mexico	$49,210	$23.66	100	0.1
West Virginia	$49,010	$23.56	130	0.2
South Carolina	$48,880	$23.50	190	0.1
South Dakota	$46,850	$22.53	40	0.1
Arkansas	$42,670	$20.52	70	0.1
Kansas	$40,010	$19.24	710	0.5
Mississippi	$39,560	$19.02	140	0.1
Puerto Rico	$28,140	$13.53	80	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 85 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Recreational Therapists: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$115,330	$55.45	50	0.2
Vallejo, CA	$115,330	$55.45	50	0.3
Napa, CA	$107,810	$51.83	150	1.9
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$102,420	$49.24	190	0.1
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$101,670	$48.88	60	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$98,530	$47.37	90	0.1
Fresno, CA	$98,160	$47.19	150	0.3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$98,120	$47.17	340	0.2
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$91,790	$44.13	90	0.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$91,740	$44.11	380	0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$82,660	$39.74	140	0.1
Mankato, MN	$81,950	$39.40	30	0.6
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$78,730	$37.85	340	0.3
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$73,980	$35.57	150	0.1
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$72,390	$34.80	60	0.0
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$71,050	$34.16	380	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$70,960	$34.12	110	0.5
Cleveland, OH	$67,390	$32.40	50	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$66,840	$32.13	130	0.1
New Haven, CT	$66,740	$32.09	60	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$66,050	$31.75	1,090	0.1
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$65,940	$31.70	50	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$65,080	$31.29	60	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$64,700	$31.10	160	0.1
Urban Honolulu, HI	$64,500	$31.01	40	0.1
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$63,950	$30.74	170	0.3
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$63,950	$30.74	130	0.2
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$63,740	$30.64	50	0.0
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$63,710	$30.63	90	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,390	$30.48	180	0.1
Syracuse, NY	$63,370	$30.47	80	0.3
Lincoln, NE	$62,980	$30.28	50	0.3
St. Louis, MO-IL	$62,810	$30.20	60	0.0
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$62,610	$30.10	130	0.1
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$62,600	$30.10	230	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$62,390	$30.00	110	0.1
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$62,000	$29.81	50	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$61,840	$29.73	50	0.1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$61,830	$29.73	30	0.1
Oklahoma City, OK	$61,550	$29.59	60	0.1
Richmond, VA	$61,270	$29.46	110	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	$61,250	$29.45	100	0.1
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$61,000	$29.33	150	0.0
Madison, WI	$60,960	$29.31	40	0.1
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$60,750	$29.21	60	0.1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$60,640	$29.15	260	0.1
Columbus, OH	$60,590	$29.13	90	0.1
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$60,550	$29.11	30	0.1
Iowa City, IA	$60,140	$28.92	40	0.4
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$59,560	$28.64	120	0.2
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$59,340	$28.53	80	0.2
Rochester, NY	$58,980	$28.36	90	0.2
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$58,970	$28.35	360	0.1
Jacksonville, FL	$58,710	$28.23	60	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$58,630	$28.19	70	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$58,110	$27.94	190	0.1
Reno, NV	$57,680	$27.73	30	0.1
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$57,290	$27.55	60	0.0
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$55,690	$26.77	50	0.2
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$55,340	$26.61	70	0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$55,270	$26.57	40	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$54,460	$26.18	340	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$53,400	$25.67	50	0.0
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$53,100	$25.53	50	0.1
Savannah, GA	$53,080	$25.52	50	0.2
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$52,960	$25.46	100	0.1
Lancaster, PA	$52,820	$25.39	30	0.1
Columbus, GA-AL	$52,750	$25.36	50	0.4
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$52,170	$25.08	90	0.1
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$52,010	$25.00	40	0.2
Winston-Salem, NC	$51,780	$24.90	40	0.1
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$50,470	$24.27	30	0.1
Ogden, UT	$50,400	$24.23	30	0.1
Boise City, ID	$49,720	$23.90	60	0.2
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$48,590	$23.36	30	0.1
Baton Rouge, LA	$48,000	$23.08	60	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$47,540	$22.86	30	0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS	$45,270	$21.76	210	0.2
Columbia, SC	$43,730	$21.03	100	0.3
Topeka, KS	$42,180	$20.28	80	0.7
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$39,260	$18.88	40	0.1
Jackson, MS	$38,800	$18.65	60	0.2
Wichita, KS	$36,780	$17.68	140	0.5
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$33,610	$16.16	70	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	Not published	Not published	70	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.