Recreational Therapists pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,620 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Atlanta earn between $50,660 and $80,790.
- $43K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $81K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,930 | $5,411 | $31.22 |
| Median | $60,640 | $5,053 | $29.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,660 | $4,222 | $24.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,790 | $6,732 | $38.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Atlanta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Atlanta earn 12% more than the Georgia average ($58,080) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $64,930 | $60,640 | $43,070 | $97,620 | 260 |
| Georgia | $58,080 | $52,010 | $29,330 | $92,500 | 530 |
| 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 Atlanta
On the average salary of $64,930, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $51,860 a year, or $4,322 a month and $1,995 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).
Is Atlanta a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Atlanta area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.1), so the average $64,930 buys what about $64,892 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Georgia cities
Atlanta ranks 1st of 4 Georgia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Atlanta: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Atlanta?
$31.21 an hour on average, and $29.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $51,860 a year ($4,322 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,930.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Atlanta 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.