Recreational Therapists
How pay grows with experience
Recreational Therapists — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $51,842 |
| Median (typical) | $65,242 |
| Experienced | $76,183 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Recreational Therapists — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Western New York | $69,866 |
| Southern Tier | $69,080 |
| Hudson Valley | $65,626 |
| Long Island | $65,605 |
| New York City | $65,422 |
| Central New York | $62,611 |
| Capital Region | $61,370 |
| Finger Lakes | $59,930 |
| North Country | $59,820 |
| Mohawk Valley | $57,892 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Healthcare Practitioners & Technical) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
- Athletic Trainers$65,581 median (+$339) · +19.0% by 2032
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,771 median (+$529) · +24.1% by 2032
- Paramedics$68,223 median (+$2,981)
- Therapists, All Other$69,712 median (+$4,470) · +13.2% by 2032
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$76,933 median (+$11,690)
- Surgical Technologists$77,299 median (+$12,057) · +27.3% by 2032
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Healthcare Practitioners & Technical) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Opticians, Dispensing$61,736 median (−$3,506) · +6.2% by 2032
- Medical Records Specialists$61,373 median (−$3,869)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$60,433 median (−$4,809) · +17.3% by 2032
- Surgical Assistants$60,277 median (−$4,965)
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$59,262 median (−$5,980)
- Psychiatric Technicians$59,199 median (−$6,043) · +27.9% by 2032
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