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

How much do recreational therapists make in Tennessee?

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

May 2025#34 of 47 states
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See also Recreational Therapist pay nationally All healthcare pay in Tennessee
Median pay in Tennessee
$51,910

a year, or $24.96 an hour. That is 16% less than the national median of $61,960.

The middle half of recreational therapists in Tennessee earn $48,090 to $61,220.

Pay range in Tennessee
Bottom 10% earn under
$37,080
25th percentile
$48,090
Median
$51,910
75th percentile
$61,220
Top 10% earn over
$78,850
Rank among states
#34 of 47

Tennessee pays recreational therapists more than 13 of the other 46 states. Highest: California ($98,170).

Jobs in Tennessee
150

0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 0.49× the U.S. concentration.

Recreational Therapist pay in Tennessee 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
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $53,400 $25.67 50
Memphis, TN-MS-AR $55,270 $26.57 40
Chattanooga, TN-GA $48,590 $23.36 30
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States with similar recreational therapist pay

Georgia $52,010 median a year Louisiana $51,150 median a year · −1% vs Tennessee Delaware $51,110 median a year · −2% vs Tennessee Montana $51,110 median a year · −2% vs Tennessee North Carolina $51,030 median a year · −2% vs Tennessee Oklahoma $50,480 median a year · −3% vs Tennessee

Other healthcare salaries in Tennessee

Registered Nurses $81,500 median a year · 72,200 jobs Home Health and Personal Care Aides $32,130 median a year · 35,950 jobs Nursing Assistants $37,990 median a year · 27,040 jobs Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $58,870 median a year · 20,830 jobs Medical Assistants $39,570 median a year · 19,180 jobs Nurse Practitioners $117,590 median a year · 12,150 jobs Pharmacy Technicians $41,920 median a year · 11,870 jobs Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $62,070 median a year · 8,410 jobs Pharmacists $133,390 median a year · 8,250 jobs Dental Assistants $46,720 median a year · 7,420 jobs Physicians, All Other $301,290 median a year · 5,340 jobs Physical Therapists $100,140 median a year · 4,800 jobs
All healthcare salaries in Tennessee

Questions about recreational therapist pay in Tennessee

How much does a recreational therapist make in Tennessee?

Recreational Therapists in Tennessee earned a median of $51,910 a year ($24.96 an hour) in May 2025, 16% less than the national median of $61,960. The middle half earned $48,090 to $61,220.

Where in Tennessee do recreational therapists earn the most?

Among areas in Tennessee, pay was highest in Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $55,270.

How does Tennessee rank for recreational therapist pay?

Tennessee ranks #34 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 Tennessee?

About 150 people worked as recreational therapists in Tennessee in May 2025, or 0.05 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.