Recreational Therapists pay range in Topeka
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,280 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Topeka earn between $36,680 and $53,810.
- $30K10th
- $37K25th
- $42KMedian
- $54K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,470 | $3,872 | $22.34 |
| Median | $42,180 | $3,515 | $20.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,810 | $4,484 | $25.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Topeka vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Topeka earn 7% more than the Kansas average ($43,550) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $46,470 | $42,180 | $29,790 | $61,280 | 80 |
| Kansas | $43,550 | $40,010 | $29,720 | $60,720 | 710 |
| 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 Topeka
On the average salary of $46,470, a single filer in Topeka takes home about $37,725 a year, or $3,144 a month and $1,451 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Topeka a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Topeka area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $46,470 buys what about $52,319 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Topeka ($49,540). A typical home costs $217,683, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Kansas cities
Topeka ranks 1st of 2 Kansas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Topeka$46,470
- Wichita$40,900
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 Topeka: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Topeka?
$22.34 an hour on average, and $20.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Topeka?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Topeka?
About $37,725 a year ($3,144 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,470.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Topeka than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 Topeka, KS (45820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 7.31, this job is 7.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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