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Recreational therapist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$61,960median pay per year, or $29.79 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $40,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,24025th percentile
  3. $61,960median
  4. $79,93075th percentile
  5. $100,420top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Recreational therapists had a median pay of $61,960 a year in May 2025[1], above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical way in[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.8%[5]
Openings per year
1,400[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do recreational therapists make?

The median wage for recreational therapists was $61,960 a year, or $29.79 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more than that and half earned less[1]. The average was $67,630 a year, or $32.52 an hour[7].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $40,990 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $50,240[4]. The 75th percentile was $79,930 and the 90th percentile was $100,420[4]. Hourly, those boundaries were $19.71, $24.16, $38.43 and $48.28[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

The median for all US occupations was $50,980[2], so the median for this job is higher[1][2].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits to employers[10]. About 14,930 people held such jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $98,170[12]. The District of Columbia followed at $95,640, then New Hampshire at $82,280[12]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $39,560[12].

California also had the most jobs at 1,920, then New York at 1,230, Texas at 800, Pennsylvania at 720 and Kansas at 710[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Napa, CA had the highest median at $107,810[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $102,420, then Fresno, CA at $98,160[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 1,090, with a median of $66,050[15].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$98,1701,920
District of Columbia$95,64050
New Hampshire$82,28070
Nevada$78,730400
Washington$77,860240
Minnesota$76,360250
Colorado$66,580200
Oregon$66,530250
New York$65,5201,230
Hawaii$64,50040
Maryland$64,300290
Vermont$63,38040
Connecticut$63,240380
Nebraska$62,980150
Massachusetts$62,820210
Arizona$62,610170
Texas$62,490800
Michigan$61,700590
Virginia$61,270570
Ohio$60,770310
New Jersey$60,400430
Wisconsin$59,350350
Kentucky$59,240100
Pennsylvania$58,940720
Missouri$58,620140
North Dakota$58,37080
Florida$57,980640
Maine$57,56040
Alabama$57,360160
Utah$56,640210
Iowa$56,140230
Illinois$54,910440
Indiana$53,770190
Georgia$52,010530
Tennessee$51,910150
Louisiana$51,150190
Delaware$51,11070
Montana$51,11040
North Carolina$51,030440
Oklahoma$50,480120
Idaho$49,72090
New Mexico$49,210100
West Virginia$49,010130
South Carolina$48,880190
South Dakota$46,85040
Arkansas$42,67070
Kansas$40,010710
Mississippi$39,560140

How to become a recreational therapist

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[3].

There is more than one route to certification. One route asks for a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy, a supervised internship and an exam[19]. Another also requires an exam, but lets people with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated subject qualify through a mix of education and work experience[19]. Some employers also prefer basic life support or CPR certification[20].

A small number of states require recreational therapists to be licensed or certified[21]. The facts we use do not say which states, so check with your state's licensing board[21].

In an ONET survey of 37 workers, 92% said a bachelor's degree is required[22]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which it labels considerable preparation needed[23].

What recreational therapists do

Recreational therapists plan and run medically approved activity programs, such as sports, trips, drama, social activities and crafts, for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions[24]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

BLS lists hospitals, state, local and private, as the largest employers, at 42% in 2025[26]. Therapists work in an office for planning and paperwork, and they may travel to work with patients[27]. Therapy can take place in a clinical or community setting, such as a recreation center or a park[27].

Some therapists spend much of their time standing, and they may need to help patients physically or lift heavy items such as wheelchairs[28]. BLS says the injury and illness rate for this job is among the highest of all occupations[29].

Full-time work is typical[30]. Some therapists work evenings and weekends to fit their patients' needs[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of recreational therapists to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 15,600 to 16,300 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[31]. So growth is a bit faster than average.

BLS expects about 1,400 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[32].

The projection counts include self-employed workers[5]. The OEWS count of about 14,930 jobs does not[11].

Is it a good fit?

Pay sits above the all-occupations median, with a wide spread from the lowest-paid to the highest-paid workers[1][4][2]. The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience needed[3]. Projected growth is a little above the all-occupations rate[5][31]. BLS also points to a high injury and illness rate and some standing and lifting[28][29].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a recreational therapist make an hour?
The median was $29.79 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $32.52[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a recreational therapist?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[3]. It is typically in a healthcare field, such as recreational therapy, or in recreation and fitness[16].
Do recreational therapists need to be certified?
Employers may require or prefer certification[18]. A small number of states require a license or certification[21].
What is the highest paying state for recreational therapists?
California had the highest median at $98,170, then the District of Columbia at $95,640[12].
Is recreational therapy in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,400 openings a year[5][31][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Recreational Therapists in the US was $61,960 per year and $29.79 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Recreational Therapists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Recreational Therapists: 10th percentile $40,990, 25th percentile $50,240, 75th percentile $79,930, 90th percentile $100,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Recreational Therapists is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 15,600 to 16,300 jobs (a change of +800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Recreational Therapists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Recreational Therapists was $67,630 per year and $32.52 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Recreational Therapists: 10th percentile $19.71, 25th percentile $24.16, 75th percentile $38.43, 90th percentile $48.28. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,930 people were employed as Recreational Therapists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Recreational Therapists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Recreational Therapists jobs: California 1,920; New York 1,230; Texas 800; Pennsylvania 720; Kansas 710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Recreational Therapists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Napa, CA $107,810; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,420; Fresno, CA $98,160; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $98,120; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $91,740; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $82,660; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $78,730; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $73,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Recreational Therapists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,090 (median $66,050); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 380 (median $91,740); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 380 (median $71,050); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 360 (median $58,970); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 340 (median $54,460); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 340 (median $78,730). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 29-1125.00 survey of workers (37 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 92%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 29-1125.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Recreational Therapists. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Recreational Therapists. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of recreational therapists in 2025: Hospitals; state, local, and private 42%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Recreational Therapists: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.