Recreational therapists use leisure activities to improve the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of individuals with disabilities or illnesses.
This article will explore the best states for recreational therapists, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. California ($78,190)
- 2. New Jersey ($75,490)
- 3. District of Columbia ($72,110)
- 4. Washington ($67,330)
- 5. Oregon ($67,200)
- 6. Hawaii ($63,870)
- 7. New York ($63,210)
- 8. Connecticut ($62,300)
- 9. Illinois ($60,400)
- 10. Arizona ($59,540)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid recreational therapists are in California, where they earn an average of $78,190 per year.
- The lowest-paid recreational therapists are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $34,240 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for recreational therapists is $52,924 per year.
1. California ($78,190)
Recreational Therapists in California earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in California is
$78,190, which is +48% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $78,190 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,770 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,560 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,020 |
| 90th Percentile | $98,970 |
2. New Jersey ($75,490)
Recreational Therapists in New Jersey earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in New Jersey is
$75,490, which is +43% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $75,490 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,880 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,970 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,770 |
3. District of Columbia ($72,110)
Recreational Therapists in District of Columbia earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in District of Columbia is
$72,110, which is +36% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $72,110 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,450 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $102,390 |
4. Washington ($67,330)
Recreational Therapists in Washington earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Washington is
$67,330, which is +27% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,330 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,060 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,110 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,500 |
| 90th Percentile | $90,170 |
5. Oregon ($67,200)
Recreational Therapists in Oregon earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Oregon is
$67,200, which is +27% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,200 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,710 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,680 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $81,930 |
6. Hawaii ($63,870)
Recreational Therapists in Hawaii earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Hawaii is
$63,870, which is +21% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $63,870 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,460 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,480 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,020 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,880 |
7. New York ($63,210)
Recreational Therapists in New York earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in New York is
$63,210, which is +19% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $63,210 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,340 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,730 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,700 |
| 90th Percentile | $84,410 |
8. Connecticut ($62,300)
Recreational Therapists in Connecticut earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Connecticut is
$62,300, which is +18% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $62,300 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,790 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $86,580 |
9. Illinois ($60,400)
Recreational Therapists in Illinois earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Illinois is
$60,400, which is +14% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $60,400 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,520 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,560 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,530 |
| 90th Percentile | $85,930 |
10. Arizona ($59,540)
Recreational Therapists in Arizona earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
recreational therapists in Arizona is
$59,540, which is +13% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $59,540 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,250 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,620 |
| 90th Percentile | $83,760 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid recreational therapists are in California, where they earn an average of $78,190 per year. The lowest-paid recreational therapists are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $34,240 per year. The U.S. average salary for recreational therapists is $52,924 per year and there are 16,010 jobs in the field.
