Recreational Therapists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,900 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Columbia earn between $39,680 and $55,170.
- $34K10th
- $40K25th
- $44KMedian
- $55K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,680 | $4,057 | $23.40 |
| Median | $43,730 | $3,644 | $21.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,680 | $3,307 | $19.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,170 | $4,598 | $26.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Columbia earn 6% less than the South Carolina average ($51,870) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is -29% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $48,680 | $43,730 | $34,450 | $67,900 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $51,870 | $48,880 | $38,290 | $74,670 | 190 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $48,680, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $40,383 a year, or $3,365 a month and $1,553 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $48,680 buys what about $51,974 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($53,320).
- Greenville$53,320
- Columbia$48,680
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 Columbia: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Columbia?
$23.40 an hour on average, and $21.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $40,383 a year ($3,365 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,680.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 2.68, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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