Recreational Therapists pay range in Dallas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,260 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Dallas earn between $48,140 and $79,460.
- $41K10th
- $48K25th
- $61KMedian
- $79K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,090 | $5,424 | $31.29 |
| Median | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,140 | $4,012 | $23.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,460 | $6,622 | $38.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Dallas vs. Texas and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Dallas earn 28% less than the Texas average ($90,570) and 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $65,090 | $61,000 | $40,560 | $99,260 | 150 |
| Texas | $90,570 | $62,490 | $36,210 | $213,790 | 800 |
| 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 Dallas
On the average salary of $65,090, a single filer in Dallas takes home about $54,480 a year, or $4,540 a month and $2,095 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Dallas a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dallas area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.1), so the average $65,090 buys what about $63,139 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Dallas ($51,440). A typical home costs $366,823, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Texas cities
Dallas ranks 1st of 2 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Dallas$65,090
- San Antonio$64,520
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 Dallas: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Dallas?
$31.30 an hour on average, and $29.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Dallas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Dallas?
About $54,480 a year ($4,540 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,090. Texas has no state income tax.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Dallas 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (19100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 21.4%.
- 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 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
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