Recreational Therapists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,180 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Philadelphia earn between $49,660 and $67,430.
- $44K10th
- $50K25th
- $59KMedian
- $67K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,520 | $5,127 | $29.58 |
| Median | $58,970 | $4,914 | $28.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,660 | $4,138 | $23.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,430 | $5,619 | $32.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Philadelphia earn 3% more than the Pennsylvania average ($59,450) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $61,520 | $58,970 | $44,190 | $84,180 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,450 | $58,940 | $39,690 | $80,340 | 720 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $61,520, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $49,723 a year, or $4,144 a month and $1,912 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $49,760 | $4,147 |
| Working in PA | $49,723 | $4,144 |
| Working in MD | $48,901 | $4,075 |
| Working in DE | $48,764 | $4,064 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $61,520 buys what about $59,988 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 6 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Scranton pays the most ($63,280).
- Scranton$63,280
- Philadelphia$61,520
- Pittsburgh$61,510
- Lancaster$53,960
- Allentown$52,720
- Harrisburg$45,340
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$29.58 an hour on average, and $28.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $49,723 a year ($4,144 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,520. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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