The average salary for a recreational therapist in New Jersey is around $60,400 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $60,400.
Wages typically start from $49,810 and go up to $85,580.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$41.15 per hour
$85,580 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$36.15 per hour
$75,180 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$29.04 per hour
$60,400 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$26.87 per hour
$55,890 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$23.95 per hour
$49,810 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 about the same as related careers in New Jersey. On average, they make less than mental health counselors but more than rehabilitation counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mental health counselor salary | $63K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $67K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $76K |
| Optician salary | $72K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $65K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $60K |
| Art therapist salary | $60K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $58K |
| Community health worker salary | $56K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)