Recreational Therapists pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,860 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Rochester earn between $49,760 and $66,620.
- $48K10th
- $50K25th
- $59KMedian
- $67K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,630 | $5,136 | $29.63 |
| Median | $58,980 | $4,915 | $28.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,760 | $4,147 | $23.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,620 | $5,552 | $32.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Rochester earn 11% less than the New York average ($68,960) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $61,630 | $58,980 | $48,020 | $86,860 | 90 |
| New York | $68,960 | $65,520 | $49,940 | $91,370 | 1,230 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $61,630, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $48,915 a year, or $4,076 a month and $1,881 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $61,630 buys what about $63,513 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 5th of 5 New York metro areas for this job; Buffalo pays the most ($70,160).
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 Rochester: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Rochester?
$29.63 an hour on average, and $28.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Rochester?
About $48,915 a year ($4,076 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,630. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.91, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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