Recreational Therapists
Recreational Therapists (SOC 29-1125) earn a median $61,960 a year ($29.79 an hour) in the United States, with 14,930 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What recreational therapists do
Recreational therapists use planned activities as treatment. Working with patients who have illnesses, injuries, disabilities or mental health conditions, they begin by reading medical records and talking with the patient and family to learn about abilities and interests, then design a program to build skills, confidence and independence. Sessions can involve sports, dance, music, art, drama, crafts, trips or relaxation techniques, and are chosen to meet a specific physical or psychological need. Therapists record each patient's participation and progress and revise the plan to match. Nearly all respondents in O*NET report a bachelor's degree. The work should not be mistaken for recreation work, such as running a parks and recreation program, which has no treatment purpose and is excluded from this code. The SOC describes programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions, and the tasks also include helping patients take part in community life.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (92 percent).
Also called: Activities Coordinator, Activities Therapist, Activity Therapist, Adventure Therapist, Certified Recreational Therapist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.71 | $24.16 | $29.79 | $38.43 | $48.28 | $32.52 | 14,930 |
| Annual | $40,990 | $50,240 | $61,960 | $79,930 | $100,420 | $67,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where recreational therapists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $29.30 | $38.38 | $47.20 | $51.84 | $55.47 | $45.88 | 1,920 | 0.11 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $60,940 | $79,820 | $98,170 | $107,830 | $115,370 | $95,420 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $24.44 | $29.14 | $45.98 | $52.87 | $56.89 | $42.34 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $50,840 | $60,600 | $95,640 | $109,970 | $118,340 | $88,060 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $25.51 | $32.35 | $39.56 | $41.60 | $47.27 | $37.70 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $53,060 | $67,290 | $82,280 | $86,530 | $98,310 | $78,410 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $22.30 | $27.23 | $37.85 | $39.47 | $47.42 | $34.39 | 400 | 0.26 | 2.66 |
| Annual | $46,380 | $56,640 | $78,730 | $82,100 | $98,630 | $71,530 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.36 | $31.70 | $37.44 | $44.68 | $52.02 | $38.95 | 240 | 0.07 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $61,070 | $65,940 | $77,860 | $92,930 | $108,200 | $81,020 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $29.30 | $38.38 | $47.20 | $51.84 | $55.47 | $45.88 | 1,920 | 0.11 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $60,940 | $79,820 | $98,170 | $107,830 | $115,370 | $95,420 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.01 | $27.88 | $31.50 | $37.59 | $43.93 | $33.15 | 1,230 | 0.13 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $49,940 | $57,980 | $65,520 | $78,180 | $91,370 | $68,960 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.41 | $22.86 | $30.04 | $47.72 | $102.78 | $43.55 | 800 | 0.06 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $36,210 | $47,550 | $62,490 | $99,260 | $213,790 | $90,570 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $19.08 | $22.99 | $28.34 | $31.67 | $38.62 | $28.58 | 720 | 0.12 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $39,690 | $47,820 | $58,940 | $65,870 | $80,340 | $59,450 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $14.29 | $16.77 | $19.24 | $24.22 | $29.19 | $20.94 | 710 | 0.49 | 5.11 |
| Annual | $29,720 | $34,880 | $40,010 | $50,370 | $60,720 | $43,550 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Hourly | $36.49 | $51.54 | $55.45 | $55.47 | $55.47 | $51.86 | 50 | 0.17 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $75,890 | $107,210 | $115,330 | $115,370 | $115,370 | $107,870 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $31.80 | $41.58 | $55.45 | $55.47 | $55.47 | $49.65 | 50 | 0.33 | 3.47 |
| Annual | $66,130 | $86,480 | $115,330 | $115,370 | $115,370 | $103,260 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $51.77 | $51.83 | $51.83 | $51.85 | $60.01 | $52.54 | 150 | 1.92 | 19.99 |
| Annual | $107,690 | $107,810 | $107,810 | $107,840 | $124,820 | $109,290 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $31.21 | $41.44 | $49.24 | $55.63 | $73.59 | $49.70 | 190 | 0.08 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $64,920 | $86,200 | $102,420 | $115,720 | $153,060 | $103,380 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $35.38 | $43.05 | $48.88 | $52.53 | $57.76 | $47.65 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $73,580 | $89,550 | $101,670 | $109,260 | $120,140 | $99,100 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.16 | $26.87 | $31.75 | $38.25 | $46.07 | $33.67 | 1,090 | 0.12 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $50,250 | $55,890 | $66,050 | $79,560 | $95,830 | $70,030 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $29.95 | $35.82 | $44.11 | $48.92 | $53.87 | $43.17 | 380 | 0.06 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $62,290 | $74,510 | $91,740 | $101,750 | $112,050 | $89,800 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $24.17 | $28.53 | $34.16 | $40.61 | $47.18 | $35.09 | 380 | 0.12 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $50,270 | $59,350 | $71,050 | $84,470 | $98,140 | $72,990 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.24 | $23.87 | $28.35 | $32.42 | $40.47 | $29.58 | 360 | 0.13 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $44,190 | $49,660 | $58,970 | $67,430 | $84,180 | $61,520 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $19.50 | $23.89 | $26.18 | $30.51 | $41.06 | $28.27 | 340 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $40,560 | $49,700 | $54,460 | $63,450 | $85,400 | $58,800 | ||||
Top industries employing recreational therapists
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals employ 22.0% of recreational therapists nationally (3,290 jobs) at a median $63,780 a year ($30.66 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (16.5%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (10.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals NAICS 622200 | 3,290 | 22.0% | $63,780 | $30.66 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 2,470 | 16.5% | $63,930 | $30.74 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,610 | 10.8% | $66,620 | $32.03 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 1,280 | 8.6% | $51,870 | $24.94 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly NAICS 623300 | 1,160 | 7.8% | $47,470 | $22.82 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (14,930). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,940 for recreational therapists in May 2021 and $61,960 in May 2025, with employment of 16,980 and 14,930.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,940 | $23.05 | 16,980 |
| May 2022 | $51,330 | $24.68 | 15,920 |
| May 2023 | $57,120 | $27.46 | 15,540 |
| May 2024 | $60,280 | $28.98 | 15,060 |
| May 2025 | $61,960 | $29.79 | 14,930 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $47.20 | $98,170 | $60,940 | $115,370 | 1,920 | 0.11 | 1.10 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $45.98 | $95,640 | $50,840 | $118,340 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $39.56 | $82,280 | $53,060 | $98,310 | 70 | 0.11 | 1.11 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $37.85 | $78,730 | $46,380 | $98,630 | 400 | 0.26 | 2.66 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $37.44 | $77,860 | $61,070 | $108,200 | 240 | 0.07 | 0.69 |
| 6 | Minnesota profile | $36.71 | $76,360 | $55,210 | $97,570 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.89 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $32.01 | $66,580 | $44,530 | $88,120 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.73 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $31.99 | $66,530 | $51,210 | $83,780 | 250 | 0.13 | 1.34 |
| 9 | New York profile | $31.50 | $65,520 | $49,940 | $91,370 | 1,230 | 0.13 | 1.33 |
| 10 | Hawaii profile | $31.01 | $64,500 | $45,920 | $95,040 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.65 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $30.91 | $64,300 | $39,220 | $95,490 | 290 | 0.11 | 1.09 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $30.47 | $63,380 | $49,830 | $79,170 | 40 | 0.12 | 1.23 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $30.40 | $63,240 | $46,350 | $101,650 | 380 | 0.22 | 2.30 |
| 14 | Nebraska profile | $30.28 | $62,980 | $40,370 | $79,080 | 150 | 0.15 | 1.57 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $30.20 | $62,820 | $49,090 | $94,890 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $49,710 | $90,230 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.53 |
| 17 | Texas profile | $30.04 | $62,490 | $36,210 | $213,790 | 800 | 0.06 | 0.59 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $29.66 | $61,700 | $42,270 | $73,690 | 590 | 0.13 | 1.39 |
| 19 | Virginia profile | $29.46 | $61,270 | $49,580 | $87,020 | 570 | 0.14 | 1.43 |
| 20 | Ohio profile | $29.22 | $60,770 | $46,440 | $84,910 | 310 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| 21 | New Jersey profile | $29.04 | $60,400 | $49,810 | $85,580 | 430 | 0.10 | 1.03 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $28.54 | $59,350 | $48,650 | $81,330 | 350 | 0.12 | 1.24 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $28.48 | $59,240 | $37,850 | $77,590 | 100 | 0.05 | 0.51 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.34 | $58,940 | $39,690 | $80,340 | 720 | 0.12 | 1.24 |
| 25 | Missouri profile | $28.18 | $58,620 | $43,000 | $93,500 | 140 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| 26 | North Dakota profile | $28.06 | $58,370 | $40,100 | $70,570 | 80 | 0.18 | 1.84 |
| 27 | Florida profile | $27.87 | $57,980 | $41,400 | $86,610 | 640 | 0.06 | 0.67 |
| 28 | Maine profile | $27.67 | $57,560 | $39,480 | $77,130 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| 29 | Alabama profile | $27.58 | $57,360 | $43,840 | $87,110 | 160 | 0.07 | 0.77 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $27.23 | $56,640 | $31,730 | $86,260 | 210 | 0.12 | 1.26 |
| 31 | Iowa profile | $26.99 | $56,140 | $43,580 | $81,970 | 230 | 0.15 | 1.55 |
| 32 | Illinois profile | $26.40 | $54,910 | $40,560 | $86,190 | 440 | 0.07 | 0.75 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $25.85 | $53,770 | $38,550 | $76,750 | 190 | 0.06 | 0.62 |
| 34 | Georgia profile | $25.00 | $52,010 | $29,330 | $92,500 | 530 | 0.11 | 1.12 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | $24.96 | $51,910 | $37,080 | $78,850 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| 36 | Louisiana profile | $24.59 | $51,150 | $36,590 | $67,220 | 190 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| 37 | Delaware profile | $24.57 | $51,110 | $42,640 | $76,290 | 70 | 0.16 | 1.61 |
| 38 | Montana profile | $24.57 | $51,110 | $38,210 | $86,260 | 40 | 0.07 | 0.75 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $24.53 | $51,030 | $41,490 | $78,340 | 440 | 0.09 | 0.93 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $24.27 | $50,480 | $32,920 | $77,910 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.72 |
| 41 | Idaho profile | $23.90 | $49,720 | $39,920 | $72,360 | 90 | 0.11 | 1.13 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $23.66 | $49,210 | $41,600 | $110,470 | 100 | 0.11 | 1.18 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $23.56 | $49,010 | $36,580 | $118,410 | 130 | 0.19 | 1.93 |
| 44 | South Carolina profile | $23.50 | $48,880 | $38,290 | $74,670 | 190 | 0.08 | 0.84 |
| 45 | South Dakota profile | $22.53 | $46,850 | $41,390 | $83,780 | 40 | 0.10 | 0.99 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $20.52 | $42,670 | $31,130 | $82,960 | 70 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
| 47 | Kansas profile | $19.24 | $40,010 | $29,720 | $60,720 | 710 | 0.49 | 5.11 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $19.02 | $39,560 | $30,570 | $65,170 | 140 | 0.12 | 1.26 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1120), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1125 Recreational Therapists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1125, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1125.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.