Recreational Therapists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,400 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Chicago earn between $49,700 and $63,450.
- $41K10th
- $50K25th
- $54KMedian
- $63K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,800 | $4,900 | $28.27 |
| Median | $54,460 | $4,538 | $26.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,700 | $4,142 | $23.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,450 | $5,288 | $30.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($59,160) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $58,800 | $54,460 | $40,560 | $85,400 | 340 |
| Illinois | $59,160 | $54,910 | $40,560 | $86,190 | 440 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $58,800, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $46,656 a year, or $3,888 a month and $1,794 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $47,692 | $3,974 |
| Working in IL | $46,656 | $3,888 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $58,800 buys what about $56,759 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$67,190
- Madison, WI$65,460
- Grand Rapids, MI$53,880
- Indianapolis, IN$53,660
- Iowa City, IA$63,010
- Ann Arbor, MI$62,400
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 Chicago: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Chicago?
$28.27 an hour on average, and $26.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $46,656 a year ($3,888 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,800.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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