Recreational Therapists pay range in Albany
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,260 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Albany earn between $53,770 and $72,390.
- $47K10th
- $54K25th
- $62KMedian
- $72K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,070 | $5,422 | $31.28 |
| Median | $61,830 | $5,152 | $29.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,770 | $4,481 | $25.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,390 | $6,032 | $34.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Albany vs. New York and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Albany earn 6% less than the New York average ($68,960) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $65,070 | $61,830 | $46,750 | $94,260 | 30 |
| New York | $68,960 | $65,520 | $49,940 | $91,370 | 1,230 |
| 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 Albany
On the average salary of $65,070, a single filer in Albany takes home about $51,490 a year, or $4,291 a month and $1,980 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Albany a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albany area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.6), so the average $65,070 buys what about $65,354 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Albany ($58,460). A typical home costs $370,533, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other New York cities
Albany ranks 4th of 5 New York metro areas for this job; Buffalo pays the most ($70,160).
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 Albany: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Albany?
$31.28 an hour on average, and $29.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Albany?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Albany?
About $51,490 a year ($4,291 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,070. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Albany 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (10580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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