What is the Salary Range for a Recreational Therapist?

The salary range for a recreational therapist can vary widely depending on how you measure it. Recreational therapists work in a variety settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools and community centers, and many people benefit from recreational therapy, regardless of age or background. Given the range of responsibilities a recreational therapist might face, it's not surprising to find some variation in salary. For recreational therapists, working in a hospital or rehabilitation setting could be a smart choice; the Salary Range for Recreational Therapist by Industry chart shows that hospitals tend to pay more than nursing homes and some other health care settings. There can also be a big difference in recreational therapist salaries depending on the location. To compare salaries in different areas, check out the reports on Recreational Therapist Salaries by City and Recreational Therapist Salaries by State. Of course, gaining experience in the field could make the biggest difference in the average salary of a recreational therapist. Looking at the Recreational Therapist Salaries by Years Experience chart, we can see that the salary range for recreational therapists increases significantly over the span of a career. This makes sense considering that recreational therapy is hands-on work; there's only so much that can be taught in a classroom - the rest is learned through on-the-job experience.

For an insider's look at what it's really like to be a recreational therapist, read "Salary Range of a Recreational Therapist" over in the Salary Stories blog. It's the real-life story of Sherri Kelly, a recreational therapist in San Diego. Sherri shares her career experience, gives advice on how to get started in the field, and explains some of the factors affecting recreational therapist salaries.

Average Salary of a Recreational Therapist

"What is the average salary of a recreational therapist?" is a question Dr. Salary hears a lot, but often it's not the best question recreational therapists could be asking. Learn why "what is the median recreational therapist salary" will get you more relevant answers than "what is the average salary of a recreational therapist" in the Dr. Salary article, "Why is Median Better than Mean for a Typical Salary?"