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Salary comparison

Recreational Therapists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses out-earn Recreational Therapists by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Recreational Therapists land at $61,960 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses at $64,400. The education gap is real: recreational therapist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Recreational Therapists is California ($98,170); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses it's Washington ($83,150).

Recreational Therapists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$61,960
$64,400
Hourly rate
$29.79/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$40,990
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$100,420
$83,440
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
14,930
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
3.3%
2.6%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
California
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Recreational Therapists median pay.

State
Recreational Therapists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
California
$98,170
$79,750
District of Columbia
$95,640
$75,740
New Hampshire
$82,280
$77,110
Nevada
$78,730
$76,160
Washington
$77,860
$83,150
Colorado
$66,580
$73,880
Oregon
$66,530
$80,470
Hawaii
$64,500
$71,140
Maryland
$64,300
$74,660
Connecticut
$63,240
$73,690
Massachusetts
$62,820
$80,220
Arizona
$62,610
$77,070
New Jersey
$60,400
$75,160
Maine
$57,560
$73,200
Illinois
$54,910
$75,000

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Recreational Therapists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn more nationally. The median is $61,960 for Recreational Therapists versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Recreational Therapists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Recreational Therapists has the better 10-year outlook at 3.3% projected growth, compared to 2.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Recreational Therapists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Recreational Therapists typically requires bachelor's degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Recreational Therapists get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Recreational Therapists at $98,170/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Recreational Therapists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Recreational Therapists earn $98,170 vs. $79,750 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Recreational Therapists salary breakdownView →Full Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Recreational Therapists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by take-home payExplore →How to become a recreational therapistsGuide →How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesGuide →