Recreational Therapists Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Recreational Therapists in Baton Rouge, LA make a median of $44,400 a year, or about $21.35 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $48,909 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,204/month — about 39.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Recreational Therapists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $97K | +60% | 1,780 |
| District of Columbia | $92K | +53% | 60 |
| Washington | $79K | +30% | 200 |
| Nevada | $77K | +28% | 410 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | +24% | 130 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +12% | 240 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +8% | 360 |
| Oregon | $64K | +6% | 250 |
| Illinois | $64K | +6% | 290 |
| New York | $64K | +5% | 1,310 |
| Michigan | $63K | +5% | 450 |
| Arizona | $61K | +1% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $61K | +1% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +1% | 340 |
| Ohio | $60K | -0% | 310 |
| Maryland | $58K | -3% | 340 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -4% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | -5% | 260 |
| Virginia | $57K | -5% | 560 |
| Pennsylvania | $57K | -6% | 750 |
| Florida | $56K | -7% | 560 |
| Nebraska | $56K | -7% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $55K | -9% | 430 |
| Maine | $55K | -10% | 50 |
| Texas | $54K | -10% | 1,030 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -10% | 170 |
| Missouri | $54K | -11% | 230 |
| Alabama | $52K | -14% | 200 |
| Indiana | $52K | -14% | 220 |
| Utah | $51K | -15% | 260 |
| Montana | $51K | -15% | 40 |
| Idaho | $51K | -15% | 90 |
| Iowa | $51K | -16% | 270 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -16% | 130 |
| Georgia | $50K | -17% | 410 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -18% | 140 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -19% | 480 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -21% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -21% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -22% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -25% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $45K | -26% | 90 |
| Delaware | $42K | -30% | 70 |
| Kansas | $40K | -34% | 710 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -37% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track recreational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baton Rouge numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do recreational therapists make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $44,400 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,390, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $59,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,030/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 39.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a recreational therapists salary go in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median recreational therapists salary is worth about $48,909 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do recreational therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.