Recreational Therapists Salary in Portland, OR-WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Median annual salary $76,250 +26.5% vs national
Median hourly $36.66
10th percentile $60,730
90th percentile $92,800
Employed locally 40
National median $60,280

Compare Recreational Therapists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Portland, OR-WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Recreational Therapists
in
Portland, OR-WA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $60,730
    25th
    $70,790
    50th (median)
    $76,250
    75th
    $87,450
    90th
    $92,800

    Portland economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $94,573 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 81% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 19% 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
    California $96,530
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $77,450
    Ann Arbor, MI $69,350
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $64,680
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $64,240
    Oregon $64,000

    Related occupations in Portland, OR-WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $127,980
    Physicians, All Other $333,860
    Pharmacy Technicians $54,740
    Pharmacists $169,520
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $78,870
    Dental Hygienists $118,950

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Portland?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Portland, OR-WA is $36.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.56 or more per hour.

    Is Portland above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Portland, OR-WA is 26.5% above 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 Portland?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $60,730 per year in Portland, OR-WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $70,790.