The average salary for a recreational therapist in California is around $98,170 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $98,170.
Wages typically start from $60,940 and go up to $115,370.
17% above national average Updated in 2025
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$55.47 per hour
$115,370 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$51.84 per hour
$107,830 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$47.20 per hour
$98,170 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$38.38 per hour
$79,820 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$29.30 per hour
$60,940 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Recreational therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,170 |
| District of Columbia | $95,640 |
| New Hampshire | $82,280 |
| Nevada | $78,730 |
| Washington | $77,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Colorado | $66,580 |
| Oregon | $66,530 |
| New York | $65,520 |
| Hawaii | $64,500 |
| Maryland | $64,300 |
| Vermont | $63,380 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 |
| Nebraska | $62,980 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 |
| Arizona | $62,610 |
| Texas | $62,490 |
| Michigan | $61,700 |
| Virginia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,770 |
| New Jersey | $60,400 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,940 |
| Missouri | $58,620 |
| North Dakota | $58,370 |
| Florida | $57,980 |
| Maine | $57,560 |
| Alabama | $57,360 |
| Utah | $56,640 |
| Iowa | $56,140 |
| Illinois | $54,910 |
| Indiana | $53,770 |
| Georgia | $52,010 |
| Tennessee | $51,910 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 |
| Delaware | $51,110 |
| Montana | $51,110 |
| North Carolina | $51,030 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 |
| Idaho | $49,720 |
| New Mexico | $49,210 |
| West Virginia | $49,010 |
| South Carolina | $48,880 |
| Wyoming | $48,170 |
| Rhode Island | $47,870 |
| South Dakota | $46,850 |
| Arkansas | $42,670 |
| Kansas | $40,010 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,360 |
How do recreational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Recreational therapists earn 6% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than epidemiologists but more than substance abuse social workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Epidemiologist salary | $111K |
| Microbiologist salary | $109K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $102K |
| Chiropractor salary | $75K |
| Registered dietitian salary | $99K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $98K |
| Art therapist salary | $98K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $90K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $76K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $79K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)