Recreational Therapists Salary
Recreational Therapists in Nevada make a median of $78,730 a year, or about $37.85 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $78,896 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,501/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Nevada?
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What this looks like in Nevada
Nevada sits well above the national pay line for recreational therapists, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,501/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. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Recreational Therapists salary by metro in Nevada
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $79K | +0% | 340 |
| Reno | $58K | -27% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track recreational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nevada numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreational therapists in Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreational therapists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,783/month. At HUD’s $1,501/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 Nevada?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $79K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for recreational therapists?
Nevada pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do recreational therapists make in Nevada?
The median is $78,730 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,380, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $98,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,314/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $78,896 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.