Recreational therapists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Recreational therapists in the United States earn a median salary of $61,960 per year — about $30 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 16K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical presence, manual assistance, and real-time interpersonal interaction through activities like adaptive sports, dance, and community outings. While AI can significantly assist with digital tasks like patient assessment, treatment planning, and progress documentation, it cannot replace the physical and emotional labor required to lead therapeutic interventions in person.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CABEST VALUE | $115,330 | Above avg (105.1) | $109,745 |
| Vallejo, CA | $115,330 | Above avg (108.5) | $106,316 |
| Fresno, CA | $98,160 | Average (102.2) | $96,086 |
| Napa, CA | $107,810 | Above avg (112.6) | $95,785 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $98,120 | Above avg (106.4) | $92,182 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,670 | Above avg (110.4) | $92,073 |
| Mankato, MN | $81,950 | Below avg (91.0) | $90,099 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,420 | Above avg (115.6) | $88,589 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,530 | Above avg (111.9) | $88,062 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,790 | Above avg (106.7) | $86,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,740 | Above avg (113.6) | $80,781 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $78,730 | Average (100.2) | $78,561 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,660 | Above avg (111.1) | $74,379 |
| Cleveland, OH | $67,390 | Below avg (93.9) | $71,750 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $73,980 | Above avg (104.8) | $70,577 |