Recreational Therapists Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $47,570 -21.1% vs national
Median hourly $22.87
10th percentile $40,780
90th percentile $57,380
Employed locally 40
National median $60,280

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Recreational Therapists
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,780
    25th
    $47,570
    50th (median)
    $47,570
    75th
    $47,570
    90th
    $57,380

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 79% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 21% 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 Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $77,680
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,420
    Emergency Medical Technicians $44,340
    Physicians, All Other $313,460
    Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Hickory, NC is $22.87, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.59 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Hickory, NC is 21.1% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $40,780 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,570.