Recreational Therapists Salary in Charlotte, NC-SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Median annual salary $48,250 -20% vs national
Median hourly $23.20
10th percentile $40,820
90th percentile $81,600
Employed locally 90
National median $60,280

Compare Recreational Therapists salary & buying power

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Recreational Therapists
in
Charlotte, NC-SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,820
    25th
    $44,080
    50th (median)
    $48,250
    75th
    $62,470
    90th
    $81,600

    Charlotte economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,201 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 60% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 40% 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 Charlotte, NC-SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $84,780
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $63,450
    Pharmacy Technicians $42,770
    Pharmacists $139,950
    Physician Assistants $132,110
    Physicians, All Other $327,040

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Charlotte?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Charlotte, NC-SC is $23.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.63 or more per hour.

    Is Charlotte above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Charlotte, NC-SC is 20% 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 Charlotte?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $40,820 per year in Charlotte, NC-SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,080.