Recreational Therapists pay range in Syracuse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,410 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Syracuse earn between $58,430 and $67,220.
- $55K10th
- $58K25th
- $63KMedian
- $67K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,680 | $5,557 | $32.06 |
| Median | $63,370 | $5,281 | $30.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,220 | $5,602 | $32.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Syracuse vs. New York and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Syracuse earn 3% less than the New York average ($68,960) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | $66,680 | $63,370 | $54,910 | $83,410 | 80 |
| 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 Syracuse
On the average salary of $66,680, a single filer in Syracuse takes home about $52,677 a year, or $4,390 a month and $2,026 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 Syracuse a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Syracuse area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $66,680 buys what about $69,646 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Syracuse ($52,990). A typical home costs $264,903, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other New York cities
Syracuse ranks 3rd 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 Syracuse: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Syracuse?
$32.06 an hour on average, and $30.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Syracuse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Syracuse?
About $52,677 a year ($4,390 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,680. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Syracuse than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Syracuse, NY (45060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 2.89, this job is 2.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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