Recreational Therapists pay range in Minneapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,840 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Minneapolis earn between $65,120 and $84,890.
- $55K10th
- $65K25th
- $74KMedian
- $85K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36.06 |
| Median | $73,980 | $6,165 | $35.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,120 | $5,427 | $31.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,890 | $7,074 | $40.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Minneapolis vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Minneapolis earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($75,120) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $75,000 | $73,980 | $55,210 | $98,840 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $75,120 | $76,360 | $55,210 | $97,570 | 250 |
| 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 Minneapolis
On the average salary of $75,000, a single filer in Minneapolis takes home about $58,016 a year, or $4,835 a month and $2,231 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $58,649 | $4,887 |
| Working in MN | $58,016 | $4,835 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Minneapolis a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Minneapolis area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.8), so the average $75,000 buys what about $71,550 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Minneapolis ($59,320). A typical home costs $393,774, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis ranks 2nd of 2 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Mankato pays the most ($77,600).
- Mankato$77,600
- Minneapolis$75,000
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 Minneapolis: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Minneapolis?
$36.06 an hour on average, and $35.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Minneapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Minneapolis?
About $58,016 a year ($4,835 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,000. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Minneapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (33460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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