Recreational Therapists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $153,060 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in San Francisco earn between $86,200 and $115,720.
- $65K10th
- $86K25th
- $102KMedian
- $116K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $103,380 | $8,615 | $49.70 |
| Median | $102,420 | $8,535 | $49.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,200 | $7,183 | $41.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,720 | $9,643 | $55.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in San Francisco earn 8% more than the California average ($95,420) and 53% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +65% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $103,380 | $102,420 | $64,920 | $153,060 | 190 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $103,380, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $76,036 a year, or $6,336 a month and $2,924 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 San Francisco a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $103,380 buys what about $89,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in San Francisco?
$49.70 an hour on average, and $49.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $76,036 a year ($6,336 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $103,380. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 53% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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