Recreational Therapists pay range in Ann Arbor
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,400 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Ann Arbor earn between $49,420 and $71,860.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $71KMedian
- $72K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,400 | $5,200 | $30.00 |
| Median | $70,960 | $5,913 | $34.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,420 | $4,118 | $23.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,860 | $5,988 | $34.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Ann Arbor vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Ann Arbor earn about the same as the Michigan average ($60,860) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $62,400 | $70,960 | $39,050 | $72,400 | 110 |
| Michigan | $60,860 | $61,700 | $42,270 | $73,690 | 590 |
| 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 Ann Arbor
On the average salary of $62,400, a single filer in Ann Arbor takes home about $49,913 a year, or $4,159 a month and $1,920 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Ann Arbor a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ann Arbor area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $62,400 buys what about $61,856 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Ann Arbor ($55,380). A typical home costs $422,945, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Michigan cities
Ann Arbor ranks 1st of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Ann Arbor$62,400
- Detroit$61,380
- Grand Rapids$53,880
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 Ann Arbor: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Ann Arbor?
$30.00 an hour on average, and $34.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Ann Arbor?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Ann Arbor?
About $49,913 a year ($4,159 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,400.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Ann Arbor than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Ann Arbor, MI (11460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.11, this job is 5.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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