The average salary for a recreational therapist in North Carolina is around $51,030 per year.
Avg Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $51,030.
Wages typically start from $41,490 and go up to $78,340.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Recreational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$37.66 per hour
$78,340 per year
Senior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$30.70 per hour
$63,860 per year
Mid-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$24.53 per hour
$51,030 per year
Junior-level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$22.09 per hour
$45,950 per year
Starting level recreational therapist earnings begin at:
$19.95 per hour
$41,490 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 North Carolina. On average, they make less than substance abuse social workers but more than dental assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $58K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $57K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $55K |
| Marriage and family therapist salary | $48K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $52K |
| Art therapist salary | $51K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $51K |
| Optician salary | $50K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $46K |
| Dental assistant salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)