Recreational Therapists Salary in Lincoln, NE
Recreational Therapists in Lincoln, NE make a median of $67,140 a year, or about $32.28 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $73,313 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,141/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $67K get you in Lincoln?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $28K 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 Lincoln numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do recreational therapists make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $67,140 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,380, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $76,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,402/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 25.9% 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $73,313 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.