Recreational Therapists Salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Recreational Therapists in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA make a median of $62,480 a year, or about $30.04 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.56), which stretches that salary to about $66,781 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,252/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.56). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level recreational therapists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $43K 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do recreational therapists make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $62,480 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,840, and experienced recreational therapists can clear $79,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,194/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 93.56 (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 $66,781 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.