Recreational Therapists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,880 or more. The middle half of recreational therapists in Seattle earn between $67,300 and $102,770.
- $59K10th
- $67K25th
- $83KMedian
- $103K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,280 | $7,107 | $41.00 |
| Median | $82,660 | $6,888 | $39.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $67,300 | $5,608 | $32.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,770 | $8,564 | $49.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreational Therapists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Recreational therapists in Seattle earn 5% more than the Washington average ($81,020) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($67,630). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $61,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $85,280 | $82,660 | $58,890 | $112,880 | 140 |
| Washington | $81,020 | $77,860 | $61,070 | $108,200 | 240 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $85,280, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $68,824 a year, or $5,735 a month and $2,647 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for recreational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $85,280 buys what about $76,737 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreational Therapists salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 2 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Seattle$85,280
- Spokane$70,310
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 Seattle: questions
How much do recreational therapists make an hour in Seattle?
$41.00 an hour on average, and $39.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreational therapists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $67,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreational therapists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $68,824 a year ($5,735 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,280. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do recreational therapists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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