Recreational Therapists pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,110 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Richmond earn between $58,050 and $75,880.
- $49K10th
- $58K25th
- $61KMedian
- $76K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,440 | $5,537 | $31.94 |
| Median | $61,270 | $5,106 | $29.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,050 | $4,838 | $27.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,880 | $6,323 | $36.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Richmond earn about the same as the Virginia average ($66,490) and about the same as the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $66,440 | $61,270 | $49,220 | $90,110 | 110 |
| Virginia | $66,490 | $61,270 | $49,580 | $87,020 | 570 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $66,440, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $52,558 a year, or $4,380 a month and $2,021 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).
Is Richmond a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $66,440 buys what about $67,894 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 2 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Richmond$66,440
- Virginia Beach$63,000
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 Richmond: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Richmond?
$31.94 an hour on average, and $29.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Richmond?
About $52,558 a year ($4,380 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,440.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Richmond 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.70, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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