Recreational Therapists Salary in Illinois
Recreational Therapists in Illinois make a median of $63,610 a year, or about $30.58 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $64K get you in Illinois?
About recreational therapists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K.Top earners bring in $94K or more - a $47K 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 |
Track recreational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do recreational therapists make in Illinois?
The median is $63,610 a year - that works out to about $30.58 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,150, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $94,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,166/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $1,203/month (median of metro areas), which eats 28.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a recreational therapists salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median recreational therapists salary is worth about $63,610 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.