Recreational Therapists pay range in Honolulu
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,040 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Honolulu earn between $57,200 and $85,360.
- $46K10th
- $57K25th
- $64KMedian
- $85K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,560 | $5,963 | $34.40 |
| Median | $64,500 | $5,375 | $31.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,200 | $4,767 | $27.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,360 | $7,113 | $41.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Honolulu vs. Hawaii and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Honolulu earn about the same as the Hawaii average ($71,690) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $71,560 | $64,500 | $45,920 | $95,040 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $71,690 | $64,500 | $45,920 | $95,040 | 40 |
| 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 Honolulu
On the average salary of $71,560, a single filer in Honolulu takes home about $55,538 a year, or $4,628 a month and $2,136 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Is Honolulu a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Honolulu area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.0), so the average $71,560 buys what about $64,491 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Honolulu ($57,220). A typical home costs $851,163, or 11.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in nearby metro areas
- San Francisco, CA$103,380
- Napa, CA$109,290
- Vallejo, CA$103,260
- San Jose, CA$99,100
- Stockton, CA$107,870
- Sacramento, CA$91,830
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 Honolulu: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Honolulu?
$34.40 an hour on average, and $31.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Honolulu?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Honolulu?
About $55,538 a year ($4,628 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,560. Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
Do recreational therapists earn more in Honolulu than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Urban Honolulu, HI (46520). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Hawaii's top brackets above $125,000 follow Act 46 (2024).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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