Recreational Therapists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,050 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Los Angeles earn between $74,510 and $101,750.
- $62K10th
- $75K25th
- $92KMedian
- $102K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,800 | $7,483 | $43.17 |
| Median | $91,740 | $7,645 | $44.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,510 | $6,209 | $35.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,750 | $8,479 | $48.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Los Angeles earn 6% less than the California average ($95,420) and 33% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +48% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $89,800 | $91,740 | $62,290 | $112,050 | 380 |
| California | $95,420 | $98,170 | $60,940 | $115,370 | 1,920 |
| United States | $67,630 | $61,960 | $40,990 | $100,420 | 14,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreational Therapists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $89,800, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $67,745 a year, or $5,645 a month and $2,606 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $89,800 buys what about $79,073 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 9th of 10 California metro areas for this job; Napa pays the most ($109,290).
- Napa$109,290
- Stockton$107,870
- San Francisco$103,380
- Vallejo$103,260
- San Jose$99,100
- Fresno$97,480
- San Diego$95,640
- Sacramento$91,830
- Los Angeles$89,800
- Riverside$84,610
Highest-paying cities for recreational therapists
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,290).
- Napa, CA$109,290
- Stockton, CA$107,870
- San Francisco, CA$103,380
- Vallejo, CA$103,260
- San Jose, CA$99,100
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Recreational Therapists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$43.17 an hour on average, and $44.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $67,745 a year ($5,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,800. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% more than the U.S. average for this job ($67,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1125; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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