Recreational Therapists pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,440 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Columbus earn between $52,010 and $52,750.
- $47K10th
- $52K25th
- $53KMedian
- $53K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,790 | $4,316 | $24.90 |
| Median | $52,750 | $4,396 | $25.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,010 | $4,334 | $25.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,750 | $4,396 | $25.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Columbus vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Columbus earn 11% less than the Georgia average ($58,080) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $51,790 | $52,750 | $47,340 | $55,440 | 50 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $51,790, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $41,957 a year, or $3,496 a month and $1,614 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $41,957 | $3,496 |
| Working in AL | $41,646 | $3,470 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $51,790 buys what about $57,998 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 4th of 4 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($64,930).
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 Columbus: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Columbus?
$24.90 an hour on average, and $25.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Columbus?
About $41,957 a year ($3,496 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,790.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.36, this job is 4.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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