Recreational Therapists Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $56,610 -6.1% vs national
Median hourly $27.22
10th percentile $41,590
90th percentile $84,640
Employed locally 30
National median $60,280

Compare Recreational Therapists salary & buying power

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Recreational Therapists
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Asheville, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,590
    25th
    $44,090
    50th (median)
    $56,610
    75th
    $78,900
    90th
    $84,640

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 82% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 18% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Recreational Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Napa, CA $107,810
    Vallejo, CA $102,640
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $102,640
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $100,820
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,360
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $96,530

    Nearby metros — Recreational Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $100,360
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $80,760
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,250
    Lincoln, NE $67,140
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $64,960
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $57,110

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $80,720
    Physicians, All Other $360,010
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $62,220
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,410
    Pharmacists $135,670
    Physician Assistants $129,600

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Asheville?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Asheville, NC is $27.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.69 or more per hour.

    Is Asheville above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Asheville, NC is 6.1% below the national median of $60,280. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Recreational Therapists in Asheville?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $41,590 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,090.