Recreational Therapists pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,820 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Milwaukee earn between $57,200 and $78,050.
- $52K10th
- $57K25th
- $64KMedian
- $78K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,190 | $5,599 | $32.30 |
| Median | $63,950 | $5,329 | $30.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,200 | $4,767 | $27.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,050 | $6,504 | $37.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Milwaukee earn 8% more than the Wisconsin average ($62,180) and about the same as the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $67,190 | $63,950 | $52,470 | $83,820 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $62,180 | $59,350 | $48,650 | $81,330 | 350 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $67,190, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $53,618 a year, or $4,468 a month and $2,062 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $67,190 buys what about $69,313 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Milwaukee$67,190
- Madison$65,460
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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Milwaukee?
$32.30 an hour on average, and $30.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $53,618 a year ($4,468 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,190.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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