Recreational Therapists Salary
Recreational Therapists in Louisiana make a median of $51,150 a year, or about $24.59 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $58,604 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Louisiana?
About recreational therapists
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for recreational therapists in Louisiana runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Recreational Therapists salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $48K | -6% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track recreational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreational therapists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreational therapists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $51K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for recreational therapists?
Louisiana pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do recreational therapists make in Louisiana?
The median is $51,150 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,590, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $67,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,462/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 34.4% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $58,604 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.