Recreational Therapists Salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Recreational Therapists in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD make a median of $57,060 a year, or about $27.44 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $55,641 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month — about 47.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $57K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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.
About recreational therapists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $35K 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do recreational therapists make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $57,060 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,630, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $77,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,845/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 47.1% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median recreational therapists salary is worth about $55,641 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.