Recreational Therapists pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,170 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Tampa earn between $47,490 and $81,330.
- $43K10th
- $47K25th
- $62KMedian
- $81K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,770 | $5,398 | $31.14 |
| Median | $62,390 | $5,199 | $30.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,490 | $3,958 | $22.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,330 | $6,778 | $39.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Tampa vs. Florida and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Tampa earn 8% more than the Florida average ($60,090) and 4% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $64,770 | $62,390 | $43,140 | $91,170 | 110 |
| Florida | $60,090 | $57,980 | $41,400 | $86,610 | 640 |
| 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 Tampa
On the average salary of $64,770, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $54,223 a year, or $4,519 a month and $2,085 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Tampa a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tampa area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $64,770 buys what about $64,199 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Tampa ($48,940). A typical home costs $360,738, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 1st of 4 Florida metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Tampa$64,770
- Miami$61,990
- Orlando$58,580
- Jacksonville$56,680
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 Tampa: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Tampa?
$31.14 an hour on average, and $30.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Tampa?
About $54,223 a year ($4,519 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,770. Florida has no state income tax.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Tampa than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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