Recreational Therapists pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,230 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Phoenix earn between $58,150 and $79,910.
- $50K10th
- $58K25th
- $63KMedian
- $80K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,560 | $5,630 | $32.48 |
| Median | $62,610 | $5,218 | $30.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,150 | $4,846 | $27.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,910 | $6,659 | $38.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Phoenix earn about the same as the Arizona average ($67,490) and about the same as the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $67,560 | $62,610 | $49,710 | $90,230 | 130 |
| Arizona | $67,490 | $62,610 | $49,710 | $90,230 | 170 |
| United States | $67,630 | $61,960 | $40,990 | $100,420 | 14,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreational Therapists salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $67,560, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $55,063 a year, or $4,589 a month and $2,118 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $67,560 buys what about $65,392 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in nearby metro areas
- Riverside, CA$84,610
- Las Vegas, NV$72,330
- San Diego, CA$95,640
- Los Angeles, CA$89,800
- Provo, UT$57,820
- Fresno, CA$97,480
Highest-paying cities for recreational therapists
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,290).
- Napa, CA$109,290
- Stockton, CA$107,870
- San Francisco, CA$103,380
- Vallejo, CA$103,260
- San Jose, CA$99,100
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Recreational Therapists salary in Phoenix: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Phoenix?
$32.48 an hour on average, and $30.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $55,063 a year ($4,589 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,560.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($67,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1125; area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.