Recreational Therapists pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,070 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Pittsburgh earn between $47,560 and $72,240.
- $40K10th
- $48K25th
- $61KMedian
- $72K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,510 | $5,126 | $29.57 |
| Median | $61,250 | $5,104 | $29.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,560 | $3,963 | $22.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,240 | $6,020 | $34.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Pittsburgh 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 -1% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $61,510 | $61,250 | $39,690 | $84,070 | 100 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $61,510, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $49,715 a year, or $4,143 a month and $1,912 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $61,510 buys what about $64,972 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 3rd 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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$29.57 an hour on average, and $29.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $49,715 a year ($4,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,510. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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