Recreational Therapists pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,070 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Winston-Salem earn between $48,490 and $65,070.
- $48K10th
- $48K25th
- $52KMedian
- $65K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,510 | $4,709 | $27.17 |
| Median | $51,780 | $4,315 | $24.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,490 | $4,041 | $23.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,070 | $5,422 | $31.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Winston-Salem earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($55,950) and 16% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $56,510 | $51,780 | $47,810 | $65,070 | 40 |
| 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 Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $56,510, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $45,840 a year, or $3,820 a month and $1,763 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 Winston-Salem a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $56,510 buys what about $61,395 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 3rd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($60,490).
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 Winston-Salem: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$27.17 an hour on average, and $24.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $45,840 a year ($3,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,510.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.46, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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