Recreational Therapists pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,310 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Grand Rapids earn between $48,180 and $59,540.
- $46K10th
- $48K25th
- $55KMedian
- $60K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,880 | $4,490 | $25.90 |
| Median | $55,340 | $4,612 | $26.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,180 | $4,015 | $23.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,540 | $4,962 | $28.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Grand Rapids earn 11% less than the Michigan average ($60,860) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $53,880 | $55,340 | $46,290 | $61,310 | 70 |
| Michigan | $60,860 | $61,700 | $42,270 | $73,690 | 590 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $53,880, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $42,708 a year, or $3,559 a month and $1,643 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $53,880 buys what about $56,392 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 3rd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($62,400).
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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$25.91 an hour on average, and $26.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $42,708 a year ($3,559 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,880. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do recreational therapists earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). 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 state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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