Recreational Therapists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,060 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Durham earn between $50,510 and $63,860.
- $45K10th
- $51K25th
- $53KMedian
- $64K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,490 | $5,041 | $29.08 |
| Median | $53,100 | $4,425 | $25.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,510 | $4,209 | $24.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,860 | $5,322 | $30.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Durham earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($55,950) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $60,490 | $53,100 | $45,020 | $90,060 | 50 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $60,490, a single filer in Durham takes home about $48,879 a year, or $4,073 a month and $1,880 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $60,490 buys what about $61,995 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Durham: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Durham?
$29.08 an hour on average, and $25.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Durham?
About $48,879 a year ($4,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,490.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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