As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Play Therapists in the US is $64,879, equivalent to $31 per hour, $1,248 weekly, or $5,407 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Play Therapists in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Play Therapists in the US vary widely, spanning from $50,456 to $75,629. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($57,330) and 75th percentile ($70,506), while top earners (90th percentile) make $75,629 per year. This $13,176 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Planning or First Aid, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Play Therapists often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 37 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Play Therapists Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Play Therapists Salary $50,456 US April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Play Therapists Salary $57,330 US April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Play Therapists Salary $64,879 US April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Play Therapists Salary $70,506 US April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Play Therapists Salary $75,629 US April 01, 2026
25% $57,330 10% $50,456 90% $75,629 75% $70,506 $64,879 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Play Therapists

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Job Openings for Play Therapists

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Play Therapists


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Recreational Therapy Director


    JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
57330
70506
64879

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
51640
64731
57882
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Play Therapists in the United States. The base salary for Play Therapists ranges from $57,330 to $70,506 with the average base salary of $64,879. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $51,640 to $64,731 with the average total cash compensation of $57,882.

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57330
70506

 

Skills associated with Play Therapists: Counseling

Recently searched related titles: Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Fx Operations Analyst

Jobs with a similar salary range to Play Therapists : Community Based Therapist, Therapeutic Mentor, Recreation Aide