Recreational Therapists pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,780 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Memphis earn between $49,770 and $68,520.
- $48K10th
- $50K25th
- $55KMedian
- $69K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,730 | $5,061 | $29.20 |
| Median | $55,270 | $4,606 | $26.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,770 | $4,148 | $23.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,520 | $5,710 | $32.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Memphis earn 10% more than the Tennessee average ($55,030) and 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $60,730 | $55,270 | $47,530 | $83,780 | 40 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $60,730, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $50,977 a year, or $4,248 a month and $1,961 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $50,977 | $4,248 |
| Working in MS | $49,279 | $4,107 |
| Working in AR | $49,218 | $4,101 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $60,730 buys what about $65,883 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Memphis$60,730
- Nashville$56,090
- Chattanooga$51,970
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 Memphis: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Memphis?
$29.20 an hour on average, and $26.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Memphis?
About $50,977 a year ($4,248 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,730. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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