Recreational Therapists Salary
Recreational Therapists in Michigan make a median of $61,700 a year, or about $29.66 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $65,715 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Michigan?
About recreational therapists
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What this looks like in Michigan
Recreational therapists pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Recreational Therapists salary by metro in Michigan
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $71K | +15% | 110 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $63K | +1% | 230 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $55K | -10% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track recreational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreational therapists in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreational therapists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,536/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for recreational therapists?
Michigan pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do recreational therapists make in Michigan?
The median is $61,700 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,270, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $73,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,083/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 31.2% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $65,715 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.