29 Series · SOC 29-1125
Recreational Therapists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $61,960
- Median / year
- +2.8%
- 2024→2025
- $100,420
- Top 10% earn
- +3.3%
- Growth '24–'34
- 14,930
- Estimated US jobs
Recreational Therapists earn a median of $61,960 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $61,960, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $40,990 (10th percentile) to $100,420 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 14,930 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($98,170).
The pay verdict
Recreational Therapists earn a median of $61,960, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 51% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #60 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% by 2034.
- $61,960
- Median annual wage
- Top 49%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #60 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $98,170. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Recreational Therapists moved from $48,220 in May 2019 to $61,960 in May 2025 (+28.5%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Recreational Therapists sits +4.0 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Recreational Therapists (SOC 29-1125) has a national median of $61,960 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $40,990 to $100,420, and the published mean is $67,630. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 14,930 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 49 state or territory areas and 94 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $60,280 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $61,960 in May 2025, a rise of $1,680 (+2.8%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $98,170, which is +58% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Stockton-Lodi, CA at $115,330. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$61,960
per year
Median Hourly
$29.79/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$67,630
average
Employment
14,930
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Recreational Therapists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$61,960 Top 49% higher than 51% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$61,960 · 51st percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Recreational Therapists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
- Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
- Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
- Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
- Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
- Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
- Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
- Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
- Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
- Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
- Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
- Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
- Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
- Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
- Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
- Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
- Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
- Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
- Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
- Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
- Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
- Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
- Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
- Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590
- Recreational Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $61960
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.3%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
1,300
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+500
16,100 (2024) → 16,600 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Recreational Therapists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- ▸ Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- ▸ Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
- ▸ Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
- ▸ Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
- ▸ Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
- ▸ Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
- ▸ Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
- ▸ Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
- ▸ Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Recreational Therapists pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $45,890 |
| 2016 | $46,410 |
| 2017 | $47,680 |
| 2018 | $47,860 |
| 2019 | $48,220 |
| 2020 | $47,710 |
| 2021 | $47,940 |
| 2022 | $51,330 |
| 2023 | $57,120 |
| 2024 | $60,280 |
| 2025 | $61,960 |
2015 median
$45,890
2025 median
$61,960
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$13,740 (+28.5%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+4.3%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $45,890 | First banked release | 17,880 |
| May 2016 | $46,410 | +1.1% | 18,100 |
| May 2017 | $47,680 | +2.7% | 18,490 |
| May 2018 | $47,860 | +0.4% | 18,840 |
| May 2019 | $48,220 | Classification break | 19,070 |
| May 2020 | $47,710 | -1.1% | 20,080 |
| May 2021 | $47,940 | +0.5% | 16,980 |
| May 2022 | $51,330 | +7.1% | 15,920 |
| May 2023 | $57,120 | +11.3% | 15,540 |
| May 2024 | $60,280 | +5.5% | 15,060 |
| May 2025 | $61,960 | +2.8% | 14,930 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $45,890 in May 2015 to $61,960 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 19,070 in May 2019 to 14,930 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 49 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $98,170 | +58% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $95,640 | +54% above national |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $82,280 | +33% above national |
| 4 | Nevada | $78,730 | +27% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $77,860 | +26% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $76,360 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $66,580 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Oregon | $66,530 | +7% above national |
| 9 | New York | $65,520 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Hawaii | $64,500 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Maryland | $64,300 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Vermont | $63,380 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut | $63,240 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Nebraska | $62,980 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $62,820 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Arizona | $62,610 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Texas | $62,490 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Michigan | $61,700 | same as national |
| 19 | Virginia | $61,270 | 1% below national |
| 20 | Ohio | $60,770 | 2% below national |
| 21 | New Jersey | $60,400 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $59,350 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Kentucky | $59,240 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $58,940 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Missouri | $58,620 | 5% below national |
| 26 | North Dakota | $58,370 | 6% below national |
| 27 | Florida | $57,980 | 6% below national |
| 28 | Maine | $57,560 | 7% below national |
| 29 | Alabama | $57,360 | 7% below national |
| 30 | Utah | $56,640 | 9% below national |
| 31 | Iowa | $56,140 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Illinois | $54,910 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $53,770 | 13% below national |
| 34 | Georgia | $52,010 | 16% below national |
| 35 | Tennessee | $51,910 | 16% below national |
| 36 | Louisiana | $51,150 | 17% below national |
| 37 | Delaware | $51,110 | 18% below national |
| 38 | Montana | $51,110 | 18% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $51,030 | 18% below national |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $50,480 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Idaho | $49,720 | 20% below national |
| 42 | New Mexico | $49,210 | 21% below national |
| 43 | West Virginia | $49,010 | 21% below national |
| 44 | South Carolina | $48,880 | 21% below national |
| 45 | South Dakota | $46,850 | 24% below national |
| 46 | Arkansas | $42,670 | 31% below national |
| 47 | Kansas | $40,010 | 35% below national |
| 48 | Mississippi | $39,560 | 36% below national |
| 49 | Puerto Rico | $28,140 | 55% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 84 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $115,330 | +86% above national |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $115,330 | +86% above national |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $107,810 | +74% above national |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,420 | +65% above national |
| 5 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,670 | +64% above national |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,530 | +59% above national |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $98,160 | +58% above national |
| 8 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,120 | +58% above national |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,790 | +48% above national |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,740 | +48% above national |
| 11 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,660 | +33% above national |
| 12 | Mankato, MN | $81,950 | +32% above national |
| 13 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $78,730 | +27% above national |
| 14 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,980 | +19% above national |
| 15 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $72,390 | +17% above national |
| 16 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,050 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Ann Arbor, MI | $70,960 | +15% above national |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $67,390 | +9% above national |
| 19 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,840 | +8% above national |
| 20 | New Haven, CT | $66,740 | +8% above national |
| 21 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $66,050 | +7% above national |
| 22 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $65,940 | +6% above national |
| 23 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $65,080 | +5% above national |
| 24 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $64,700 | +4% above national |
| 25 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $64,500 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $63,950 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $63,950 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,740 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $63,710 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,390 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Syracuse, NY | $63,370 | +2% above national |
| 32 | Lincoln, NE | $62,980 | +2% above national |
| 33 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,810 | +1% above national |
| 34 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $62,610 | +1% above national |
| 35 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,600 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $62,390 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $62,000 | same as national |
| 38 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,840 | same as national |
| 39 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $61,830 | same as national |
| 40 | Oklahoma City, OK | $61,550 | 1% below national |
| 41 | Richmond, VA | $61,270 | 1% below national |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,250 | 1% below national |
| 43 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $61,000 | 2% below national |
| 44 | Madison, WI | $60,960 | 2% below national |
| 45 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,750 | 2% below national |
| 46 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $60,640 | 2% below national |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $60,590 | 2% below national |
| 48 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,550 | 2% below national |
| 49 | Iowa City, IA | $60,140 | 3% below national |
| 50 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,560 | 4% below national |
| 51 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $59,340 | 4% below national |
| 52 | Rochester, NY | $58,980 | 5% below national |
| 53 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,970 | 5% below national |
| 54 | Jacksonville, FL | $58,710 | 5% below national |
| 55 | Omaha, NE-IA | $58,630 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,110 | 6% below national |
| 57 | Reno, NV | $57,680 | 7% below national |
| 58 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $57,290 | 8% below national |
| 59 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $55,690 | 10% below national |
| 60 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $55,340 | 11% below national |
| 61 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $55,270 | 11% below national |
| 62 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $54,460 | 12% below national |
| 63 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,400 | 14% below national |
| 64 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $53,100 | 14% below national |
| 65 | Savannah, GA | $53,080 | 14% below national |
| 66 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $52,960 | 15% below national |
| 67 | Lancaster, PA | $52,820 | 15% below national |
| 68 | Columbus, GA-AL | $52,750 | 15% below national |
| 69 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $52,170 | 16% below national |
| 70 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $52,010 | 16% below national |
| 71 | Winston-Salem, NC | $51,780 | 16% below national |
| 72 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $50,470 | 19% below national |
| 73 | Ogden, UT | $50,400 | 19% below national |
| 74 | Boise City, ID | $49,720 | 20% below national |
| 75 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $48,590 | 22% below national |
| 76 | Baton Rouge, LA | $48,000 | 23% below national |
| 77 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,540 | 23% below national |
| 78 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $45,270 | 27% below national |
| 79 | Columbia, SC | $43,730 | 29% below national |
| 80 | Topeka, KS | $42,180 | 32% below national |
| 81 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $39,260 | 37% below national |
| 82 | Jackson, MS | $38,800 | 37% below national |
| 83 | Wichita, KS | $36,780 | 41% below national |
| 84 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $33,610 | 46% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Acupuncturists
SOC 29-1291
Anesthesiologists
SOC 29-1211
Athletic Trainers
SOC 29-9091
Audiologists
SOC 29-1181
Cardiologists
SOC 29-1212
Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($61,960 here) and reported employment (14,930 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Recreational Therapists make? ▼
Where does Recreational Therapists pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Recreational Therapists the most? ▼
What education do Recreational Therapists need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Recreational Therapists? ▼
Is Recreational Therapists a good career? ▼
How does Recreational Therapists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Recreational Therapists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Recreational Therapists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $79,930/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $98,170/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.