Recreational Therapists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $94,770 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Portland earn between $62,770 and $82,310.
- $60K10th
- $63K25th
- $72KMedian
- $82K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,870 | $6,156 | $35.51 |
| Median | $72,390 | $6,032 | $34.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,770 | $5,231 | $30.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,310 | $6,859 | $39.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Portland earn 9% more than the Oregon average ($67,670) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $73,870 | $72,390 | $59,520 | $94,770 | 60 |
| Oregon | $67,670 | $66,530 | $51,210 | $83,780 | 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 Portland
On the average salary of $73,870, a single filer in Portland takes home about $55,541 a year, or $4,628 a month and $2,136 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $60,798 | $5,066 |
| Working in OR | $55,541 | $4,628 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $73,870 buys what about $70,071 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in nearby metro areas
- Seattle, WA$85,280
- Spokane, WA$70,310
- Boise, ID$53,990
- Reno, NV$63,740
- Sacramento, CA$91,830
- Napa, CA$109,290
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 Portland: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Portland?
$35.51 an hour on average, and $34.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Portland?
About $55,541 a year ($4,628 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,870. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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