Recreational Therapists pay range in Sacramento
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,370 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Sacramento earn between $75,850 and $114,600.
- $62K10th
- $76K25th
- $92KMedian
- $115K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,830 | $7,652 | $44.15 |
| Median | $91,790 | $7,649 | $44.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,850 | $6,321 | $36.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $114,600 | $9,550 | $55.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Sacramento vs. California and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Sacramento earn 4% less than the California average ($95,420) and 36% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | $91,830 | $91,790 | $62,360 | $115,370 | 90 |
| 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 Sacramento
On the average salary of $91,830, a single filer in Sacramento takes home about $68,984 a year, or $5,749 a month and $2,653 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 Sacramento a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sacramento area are 7% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.7), so the average $91,830 buys what about $86,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Sacramento ($59,750). A typical home costs $582,707, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other California cities
Sacramento ranks 8th 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 Sacramento: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Sacramento?
$44.15 an hour on average, and $44.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Sacramento?
About $68,984 a year ($5,749 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,830. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Sacramento than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (40900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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