Recreational Therapists Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$55,817
Highest Paying City
San Francisco
$77,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Recreational Therapists Do?
Recreational Therapists diagnose and treat patients, provide specialized medical care, and work to improve health outcomes. Their clinical expertise and compassion are essential to the healthcare system.
Work settings include hospitals, clinics, private practices, and outpatient care centers. Many healthcare professionals work shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Key Skills for Recreational Therapists
Education Requirements
Doctoral or professional degree for physicians; bachelor's or associate's for technicians
Requirements range from associate's degrees for technicians to doctoral degrees for physicians. Most practitioners require professional licensure or certification. Continuing education is mandatory to maintain credentials.
Career Outlook
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, driven by an aging population, advances in medical technology, and increased access to healthcare services.
How to Increase Your Recreational Therapists Salary
- 1.Develop subspecialty expertise in a high-demand area
- 2.Consider leadership roles in healthcare administration
- 3.Build experience with electronic health records and health informatics
- 4.Pursue advanced degrees or fellowships for career advancement
- 5.Develop strong patient communication and bedside manner skills
Recreational Therapists Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $77,000 | $79,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Jose, CA | $77,000 | $85,000 | $46,000 - $100,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $72,000 | $79,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $72,000 | $74,000 | $43,000 - $94,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $68,000 | $73,000 | $44,000 - $86,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $67,000 | $70,000 | $44,000 - $85,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $65,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $82,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $64,000 | $68,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $64,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $63,000 | $70,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $63,000 | $67,000 | $41,000 - $80,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $62,000 | $65,000 | $40,000 - $78,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $61,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $61,000 | $64,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $60,000 | $66,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $60,000 | $66,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $60,000 | $65,000 | $39,000 - $76,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $58,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,000 | $63,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $58,000 | $59,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $58,000 | $62,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $57,000 | $61,000 | $37,000 - $72,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $56,000 | $59,000 | $36,000 - $71,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $55,000 | $61,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $55,000 | $58,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $55,000 | $60,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $55,000 | $60,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $54,000 | $57,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $54,000 | $59,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $54,000 | $57,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $53,000 | $56,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $53,000 | $59,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $53,000 | $58,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $53,000 | $54,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $53,000 | $55,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $53,000 | $54,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $53,000 | $56,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $53,000 | $55,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $53,000 | $57,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $53,000 | $59,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $52,000 | $57,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $52,000 | $56,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $52,000 | $58,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $52,000 | $54,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $52,000 | $55,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $51,000 | $52,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $51,000 | $56,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $51,000 | $52,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $50,000 | $52,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $49,000 | $50,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $49,000 | $50,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $48,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $48,000 | $53,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $46,000 | $49,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $45,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $55,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $44,000 | $46,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $41,000 | $46,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $41,000 | $43,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $41,000 | $42,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | CAD | Apply |