SOC 29-1125 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreational Therapists — Florida
Florida · 4 metro areas compared
At $57,980, median pay for Recreational Therapists in Florida tracks the national median of $61,960 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $57,980, median pay for Recreational Therapists in Florida tracks the national median of $61,960 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,480 and $66,480. The lowest tenth earn under $41,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $86,610.
Employment stands at 640, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 48 states with published data for this occupation, Florida ranks 27th by median wage. Tampa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,390. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 372nd of 777 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,400 | −33.2% |
| 25th | $47,480 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $57,980 | −6.4% |
| 75th | $66,480 | +7.3% |
| 90th | $86,610 | +39.8% |
| Mean | $60,090 | −3.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa | $62,390 | 110 | |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $58,710 | 60 | |
| 3 | Miami | $58,110 | 190 | |
| 4 | Orlando | $57,290 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $57,980 buys what $56,074 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,074US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,980 a year, 6.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,400 to $86,610 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 640 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Tampa, at $62,390.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreational Therapists in Florida?
The median annual wage is $57,980, or $27.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $61,960, so pay in Florida is 6.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florida earns more than $86,610 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,400 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Tampa, at $62,390 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 640 jobs in this occupation in Florida. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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