Recreational Therapists pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,220 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Chattanooga earn between $48,590 and $53,340.
- $37K10th
- $49K25th
- $49KMedian
- $53K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,970 | $4,331 | $24.99 |
| Median | $48,590 | $4,049 | $23.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,590 | $4,049 | $23.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,340 | $4,445 | $25.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Chattanooga earn 6% less than the Tennessee average ($55,030) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $51,970 | $48,590 | $37,030 | $61,220 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $55,030 | $51,910 | $37,080 | $78,850 | 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $51,970, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $43,938 a year, or $3,661 a month and $1,690 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $43,938 | $3,661 |
| Working in GA | $42,093 | $3,508 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $51,970 buys what about $56,820 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($60,730).
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Chattanooga?
$24.98 an hour on average, and $23.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $43,938 a year ($3,661 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,970. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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