Recreational Therapists pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,500 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Charlotte earn between $45,100 and $66,260.
- $41K10th
- $45K25th
- $52KMedian
- $66K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,630 | $4,886 | $28.19 |
| Median | $52,170 | $4,348 | $25.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,100 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,260 | $5,522 | $31.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Charlotte earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($55,950) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $58,630 | $52,170 | $41,300 | $84,500 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $55,950 | $51,030 | $41,490 | $78,340 | 440 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $58,630, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $47,459 a year, or $3,955 a month and $1,825 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $47,717 | $3,976 |
| Working in NC | $47,459 | $3,955 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $58,630 buys what about $60,227 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 2nd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($60,490).
- Durham$60,490
- Charlotte$58,630
- Winston-Salem$56,510
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Charlotte?
$28.19 an hour on average, and $25.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $47,459 a year ($3,955 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,630.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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