Recreational Therapists pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,080 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Lincoln earn between $51,860 and $69,790.
- $46K10th
- $52K25th
- $63KMedian
- $70K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,770 | $5,231 | $30.18 |
| Median | $62,980 | $5,248 | $30.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,860 | $4,322 | $24.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,790 | $5,816 | $33.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Lincoln earn 4% more than the Nebraska average ($60,600) and 7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $62,770 | $62,980 | $45,570 | $79,080 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $60,600 | $62,980 | $40,370 | $79,080 | 150 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $62,770, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $50,639 a year, or $4,220 a month and $1,948 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lincoln a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $62,770 buys what about $68,540 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 1st of 2 Nebraska metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lincoln$62,770
- Omaha$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 Lincoln: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Lincoln?
$30.18 an hour on average, and $30.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $50,639 a year ($4,220 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,770.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Lincoln than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 3.08, this job is 3.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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