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Recreation Therapy Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Recreation Therapy Assistant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Recreation Therapy Assistant in the United States is $65,686 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Recreation Therapy Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,154
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,254 to $71,689
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,577
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Recreation Therapy Assistant Salaries

A Recreation Therapy Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Recreation Therapy Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Recreation Therapy Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,280
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $64,866
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,616
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,042
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,475
Levels Salary
Entry Level Recreation Therapy Assistant$64,280
Intermediate Level Recreation Therapy Assistant$64,866
Senior Level Recreation Therapy Assistant$67,616
Specialist Level Recreation Therapy Assistant$70,042
Expert Level Recreation Therapy Assistant$70,475
View as Graph

How Do Recreation Therapy Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Recreation Therapy Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $72,727.
  • California: $72,451.
  • Massachusetts: $71,486.

Top Paying Cities for Recreation Therapy Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $82,849
  • San Francisco: $81,942
  • Oakland: $80,215

What Skills Can Increase a Recreation Therapy Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 10.3% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • Discharge Planning (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Developing a personalized plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organization to the patient's home or residential care.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.3%
First Aid 2.94%
Discharge Planning 1.57%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Recreation Therapy Assistant's salary.

  • Dialysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Group Therapy: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dialysis $69,627
6%
Flexibility $68,970
5%
Group Therapy $68,313
4%
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Recreation Therapy Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Recreation Therapy Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Recreation Therapy Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Recreation Therapy Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Recreation Therapy Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$75,538$36.015%

How Education impacts a Recreation Therapy Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Recreation Therapy Assistants enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Recreation Therapy Assistant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,034 and $64,817).

Recreation Therapy Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Recreation Therapy Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.0%
High School 6.0%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 69.8%
Masters 19.5%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Recreation Therapy Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Recreation Therapy Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$57,254
Average $65,686/year
$71,689
$4,771
Average $5,474/month
$5,974
$1,101
Average $1,263/week
$1,379
$28
Average $32/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,689 $5,974 $1,379 $34
Average $65,686 $5,474 $1,263 $32
25th Percentile $57,254 $4,771 $1,101 $28

Most common benefits for Recreation Therapy Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Recreation Therapy Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Recreation Therapy Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Recreation Therapy Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Recreation Therapy Assistant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Recreation Therapy Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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