Recreational Therapists Salary
Recreational Therapists in Kentucky make a median of $59,240 a year, or about $28.48 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $65,654 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Recreational therapists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Recreational Therapists salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $62K | +4% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreational therapists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreational therapists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,271/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is recreational therapist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for recreational therapists?
Kentucky pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do recreational therapists make in Kentucky?
The median is $59,240 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,850, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $77,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,939/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 28.2% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $65,654 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.