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Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in the United States is $69,106 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,186
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,392 to $74,906
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,459
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $60,392 10% $52,459 90% $80,186 75% $74,906 $69,106 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,906 $6,242 $1,440 $36
Average $69,106 $5,759 $1,329 $33
25th Percentile $60,392 $5,033 $1,161 $29
Check out Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Openings in the United States
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eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salaries

A Therapeutic Recreation Specialist'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 Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist'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): $66,443
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,048
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,890
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,398
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,845
Levels Salary
Entry Level Therapeutic Recreation Specialist$66,443
Intermediate Level Therapeutic Recreation Specialist$67,048
Senior Level Therapeutic Recreation Specialist$69,890
Specialist Level Therapeutic Recreation Specialist$72,398
Expert Level Therapeutic Recreation Specialist$72,845
$66,443 0 yr
$67,048 < 2 yrs
$69,890 2-4 yrs
$72,398 5-8 yrs
$72,845 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Therapeutic Recreation Specialists

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: $87,163
  • San Francisco: $86,208
  • Oakland: $84,392

What Skills Can Increase a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.3%
First Aid 2.94%
Discharge Planning 1.57%
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 Therapeutic Recreation Specialist'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
 $73,252
6%
Flexibility
 $72,561
5%
Group Therapy
 $71,870
4%
Collaboration
 $71,870
4%
Commitment
 $71,870
4%
Coordination
 $71,870
4%
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Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Therapeutic Recreation Specialist 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, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Therapeutic Recreation Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$79,471$38.015%

How Education impacts a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Therapeutic Recreation Specialists 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 Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,034 and $64,817).

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
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%
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Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$60,392
Average $69,106/year
$74,906
$5,033
Average $5,759/month
$6,242
$1,161
Average $1,329/week
$1,440
$29
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,906 $6,242 $1,440 $36
Average $69,106 $5,759 $1,329 $33
25th Percentile $60,392 $5,033 $1,161 $29

Salaries of jobs related to Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Salary Trends for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Salaries for a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,235 in 2023 to around $114,791 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Therapeutic Recreation Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,235
2024
$116,630
2025
$114,791
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,235
2024 $116,630
2025 $114,791
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Therapeutic Recreation Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

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    Instacart

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  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

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  • Confidential

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    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

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  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Truck Driver Company

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FAQ about Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist 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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