facebook tracking Recreational Therapist salary in New York (2025): how much recreational therapists make, by city

How much do recreational therapists make in New York?

What recreational therapists earn in New York and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).

May 2025#8 of 47 states
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See also Recreational Therapist pay nationally All healthcare pay in New York
Median pay in New York
$65,520

a year, or $31.50 an hour. That is 6% more than the national median of $61,960.

The middle half of recreational therapists in New York earn $57,980 to $78,180.

Pay range in New York
Bottom 10% earn under
$49,940
25th percentile
$57,980
Median
$65,520
75th percentile
$78,180
Top 10% earn over
$91,370
Rank among states
#8 of 47

New York pays recreational therapists more than 39 of the other 46 states. Highest: California ($98,170).

Jobs in New York
1,230

0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 1.33× the U.S. concentration.

Recreational Therapist pay in New York cities

Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.

AreaPay a yearHourlyJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $66,050 $31.75 1,090
Rochester, NY $58,980 $28.36 90
Syracuse, NY $63,370 $30.47 80
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $65,080 $31.29 60
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $61,830 $29.73 30
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States with similar recreational therapist pay

Colorado $66,580 median a year · +2% vs New York Oregon $66,530 median a year · +2% vs New York Hawaii $64,500 median a year · −2% vs New York Maryland $64,300 median a year · −2% vs New York Vermont $63,380 median a year · −3% vs New York Connecticut $63,240 median a year · −3% vs New York

Other healthcare salaries in New York

Home Health and Personal Care Aides $39,620 median a year · 663,140 jobs Registered Nurses $109,440 median a year · 205,810 jobs Nursing Assistants $48,590 median a year · 87,990 jobs Medical Assistants $48,000 median a year · 40,710 jobs Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $67,180 median a year · 39,400 jobs Pharmacy Technicians $43,930 median a year · 24,400 jobs Nurse Practitioners $153,510 median a year · 22,890 jobs Physical Therapists $100,660 median a year · 20,940 jobs Dental Assistants $48,110 median a year · 19,800 jobs Pharmacists $142,090 median a year · 19,760 jobs Physician Assistants $160,880 median a year · 19,140 jobs Physicians, All Other $242,500 median a year · 16,600 jobs
All healthcare salaries in New York

Questions about recreational therapist pay in New York

How much does a recreational therapist make in New York?

Recreational Therapists in New York earned a median of $65,520 a year ($31.50 an hour) in May 2025, 6% more than the national median of $61,960. The middle half earned $57,980 to $78,180.

Where in New York do recreational therapists earn the most?

Among areas in New York, pay was highest in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $66,050.

How does New York rank for recreational therapist pay?

New York ranks #8 of 47 states for recreational therapists pay. California pays the most, at $98,170 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.

How many recreational therapists work in New York?

About 1,230 people worked as recreational therapists in New York in May 2025, or 0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.