Recreational Therapists Salary in Madison, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Madison, WI

Median annual salary $56,440 -6.4% vs national
Median hourly $27.14
10th percentile $47,210
90th percentile $81,840
Employed locally 40
National median $60,280

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Recreational Therapists
in
Madison, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,210
    25th
    $50,000
    50th (median)
    $56,440
    75th
    $71,120
    90th
    $81,840

    Madison economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,827 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 65% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 35% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $68,670
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $62,480
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,790
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $57,060
    Wisconsin $55,010
    Winston-Salem, NC $53,040

    Related occupations in Madison, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $89,980
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $64,040
    Pharmacy Technicians $43,580
    Psychiatric Technicians $62,130
    Pharmacists $143,940
    Physicians, All Other $301,940

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Madison?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Madison, WI is $27.14, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.74 or more per hour.

    Is Madison above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Madison, WI is 6.4% 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 Madison?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $47,210 per year in Madison, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,000.