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Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity. Excludes “Recreation Workers” (39-9032).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Recreational Therapists:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
15,920 | 1.4 % | $ 27.07 | $ 56,310 | 0.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Recreational Therapists:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 16.31 | $ 20.00 | $ 24.68 | $ 31.99 | $ 40.58 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 33,930 | $ 41,600 | $ 51,330 | $ 66,530 | $ 84,410 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Recreational Therapists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Recreational Therapists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Recreational Therapists:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 3,080 | 1.33 | $ 27.31 | $ 56,800 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 2,640 | 0.05 | $ 28.61 | $ 59,500 |
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 2,610 | 0.19 | $ 22.49 | $ 46,780 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 1,600 | 0.08 | $ 28.85 | $ 60,010 |
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 1,280 | 0.15 | $ 20.44 | $ 42,510 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Recreational Therapists:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 3,080 | 1.33 | $ 27.31 | $ 56,800 |
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 2,610 | 0.19 | $ 22.49 | $ 46,780 |
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 440 | 0.16 | $ 27.91 | $ 58,050 |
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 1,280 | 0.15 | $ 20.44 | $ 42,510 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 1,600 | 0.08 | $ 28.85 | $ 60,010 |
Top paying industries for Recreational Therapists:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Offices of Physicians | 210 | 0.01 | $ 40.76 | $ 84,770 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 1,020 | 0.05 | $ 38.68 | $ 80,450 |
Home Health Care Services | 270 | 0.02 | $ 31.50 | $ 65,520 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 80 | (7) | $ 29.46 | $ 61,270 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 150 | (7) | $ 29.31 | $ 60,960 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Recreational Therapists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Recreational Therapists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Recreational Therapists:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 1,580 | 0.09 | 0.83 | $ 37.59 | $ 78,190 |
New York | 1,430 | 0.16 | 1.46 | $ 30.39 | $ 63,210 |
Texas | 890 | 0.07 | 0.64 | $ 26.47 | $ 55,050 |
Pennsylvania | 800 | 0.14 | 1.28 | $ 25.64 | $ 53,340 |
Florida | 700 | 0.08 | 0.71 | $ 26.10 | $ 54,280 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Recreational Therapists:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas | 670 | 0.49 | 4.54 | $ 17.67 | $ 36,750 |
Iowa | 390 | 0.26 | 2.38 | $ 24.25 | $ 50,430 |
Missouri | 520 | 0.19 | 1.73 | $ 23.04 | $ 47,910 |
Utah | 290 | 0.18 | 1.66 | $ 23.49 | $ 48,860 |
Mississippi | 190 | 0.17 | 1.56 | $ 18.59 | $ 38,660 |
Top paying states for Recreational Therapists:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 1,580 | 0.09 | 0.83 | $ 37.59 | $ 78,190 |
New Jersey | 550 | 0.13 | 1.24 | $ 36.30 | $ 75,490 |
District of Columbia | 80 | 0.11 | 1.05 | $ 34.67 | $ 72,110 |
Washington | 230 | 0.07 | 0.64 | $ 32.37 | $ 67,330 |
Oregon | 120 | 0.07 | 0.61 | $ 32.31 | $ 67,200 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Recreational Therapists:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,480 | 0.16 | 1.49 | $ 32.46 | $ 67,520 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 380 | 0.14 | 1.32 | $ 26.03 | $ 54,150 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 370 | 0.14 | 1.26 | $ 26.98 | $ 56,130 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 360 | 0.06 | 0.55 | $ 34.41 | $ 71,570 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 360 | 0.08 | 0.76 | $ 28.76 | $ 59,820 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 280 | 0.15 | 1.36 | $ 25.52 | $ 53,080 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 260 | 0.14 | 1.28 | $ 26.25 | $ 54,590 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 250 | 0.08 | 0.78 | $ 30.32 | $ 63,070 |
Kansas City, MO-KS | 250 | 0.24 | 2.22 | $ 20.37 | $ 42,370 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 250 | 0.10 | 0.88 | $ 27.50 | $ 57,190 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Recreational Therapists:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 30 | 0.80 | 7.47 | $ 29.14 | $ 60,620 |
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 70 | 0.61 | 5.67 | $ 42.99 | $ 89,420 |
Topeka, KS | 70 | 0.60 | 5.58 | $ 19.08 | $ 39,680 |
Iowa City, IA | 50 | 0.51 | 4.78 | $ 26.11 | $ 54,310 |
Wichita, KS | 130 | 0.43 | 3.96 | $ 16.72 | $ 34,770 |
Columbia, MO | 40 | 0.39 | 3.65 | $ 25.86 | $ 53,780 |
Ann Arbor, MI | 80 | 0.38 | 3.55 | $ 28.02 | $ 58,290 |
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 50 | 0.36 | 3.38 | $ 41.25 | $ 85,810 |
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 40 | 0.32 | 3.02 | $ 26.44 | $ 55,000 |
Worcester, MA-CT | 90 | 0.32 | 3.01 | $ 22.13 | $ 46,030 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Recreational Therapists:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stockton-Lodi, CA | 50 | 0.17 | 1.62 | $ 44.61 | $ 92,780 |
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 70 | 0.61 | 5.67 | $ 42.99 | $ 89,420 |
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 50 | 0.36 | 3.38 | $ 41.25 | $ 85,810 |
Fresno, CA | 80 | 0.19 | 1.79 | $ 40.27 | $ 83,760 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 140 | 0.06 | 0.55 | $ 38.87 | $ 80,840 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 100 | 0.08 | 0.79 | $ 36.63 | $ 76,190 |
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 160 | 0.10 | 0.89 | $ 36.48 | $ 75,870 |
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 100 | 0.10 | 0.90 | $ 36.38 | $ 75,660 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 40 | 0.03 | 0.32 | $ 36.22 | $ 75,340 |
Trenton, NJ | 50 | 0.19 | 1.78 | $ 35.19 | $ 73,180 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Recreational Therapists:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 0.80 | 7.41 | $ 16.86 | $ 35,060 |
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 1.18 | 10.99 | $ 21.34 | $ 44,390 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.27 | 2.54 | $ 25.31 | $ 52,640 |
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.18 | 1.70 | $ 27.13 | $ 56,420 |
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.16 | 1.47 | $ 21.88 | $ 45,510 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Recreational Therapists:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 1.18 | 10.99 | $ 21.34 | $ 44,390 |
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 0.80 | 7.41 | $ 16.86 | $ 35,060 |
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.37 | 3.41 | $ 26.86 | $ 55,870 |
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.31 | 2.84 | $ 21.40 | $ 44,510 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.27 | 2.54 | $ 25.31 | $ 52,640 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Recreational Therapists:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.27 | 2.49 | $ 27.46 | $ 57,110 |
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.18 | 1.70 | $ 27.13 | $ 56,420 |
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.37 | 3.41 | $ 26.86 | $ 55,870 |
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.19 | 1.75 | $ 25.74 | $ 53,540 |
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.27 | 2.54 | $ 25.31 | $ 52,640 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023