Recreational Therapists pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,490 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Detroit earn between $51,180 and $72,120.
- $42K10th
- $51K25th
- $63KMedian
- $72K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,380 | $5,115 | $29.51 |
| Median | $62,600 | $5,217 | $30.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,180 | $4,265 | $24.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,120 | $6,010 | $34.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($60,860) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $61,380 | $62,600 | $42,440 | $74,490 | 230 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $61,380, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $47,803 a year, or $3,984 a month and $1,839 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $61,380 buys what about $61,198 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 2nd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($62,400).
- 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 Detroit: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Detroit?
$29.51 an hour on average, and $30.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Detroit?
About $47,803 a year ($3,984 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,380. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do recreational therapists earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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