Recreational Therapists Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $80,280 +33.2% vs national
Median hourly $38.60
10th percentile $60,920
90th percentile $105,670
Employed locally 110
National median $60,280

Compare Recreational Therapists salary & buying power

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Recreational Therapists
in
Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $60,920
    25th
    $67,140
    50th (median)
    $80,280
    75th
    $96,130
    90th
    $105,670

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Recreational Therapists salary vs area income 71% Median Recreational Therapists salary is 29% 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
    Washington $78,620
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,250
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $68,540
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $66,910
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $64,680
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $64,100

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $118,570
    Pharmacy Technicians $59,960
    Pharmacists $165,270
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $73,490
    Physicians, All Other $330,560
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $80,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Recreational Therapists make per hour in Seattle?

    The median hourly wage for Recreational Therapists in Seattle, WA is $38.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $54.27 or more per hour.

    Is Seattle above or below average for Recreational Therapists salaries?

    The median Recreational Therapists salary in Seattle, WA is 33.2% 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 Seattle?

    Entry-level Recreational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $60,920 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,140.