Recreational Therapists pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,120 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Denver earn between $60,140 and $79,680.
- $45K10th
- $60K25th
- $67KMedian
- $80K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,370 | $5,698 | $32.87 |
| Median | $66,840 | $5,570 | $32.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,140 | $5,012 | $28.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,680 | $6,640 | $38.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($67,540) and about the same as the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $68,370 | $66,840 | $44,530 | $88,120 | 130 |
| Colorado | $67,540 | $66,580 | $44,530 | $88,120 | 200 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $68,370, a single filer in Denver takes home about $54,628 a year, or $4,552 a month and $2,101 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $68,370 buys what about $64,633 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in nearby metro areas
- Ogden, UT$48,440
- Provo, UT$57,820
- Wichita, KS$40,900
- Salt Lake City, UT$65,770
- Lincoln, NE$62,770
- Omaha, NE$62,490
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
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Recreational Therapists salary in Denver: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Denver?
$32.87 an hour on average, and $32.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Denver?
About $54,628 a year ($4,552 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,370. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Denver 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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