SOC 29-1125 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreational Therapists — Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Recreational Therapists in Seattle, WA is $82,660 per year, well above the national median of $61,960.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Recreational Therapists in Seattle, WA is $82,660 per year, well above the national median of $61,960. The gap of 33.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $67,300 and $102,770. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $58,890 and the ninetieth at $112,880.
Employment stands at 140, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Spokane records the highest median at $65,940. Of the 693 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 298th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,890 | −5.0% |
| 25th | $67,300 | +8.6% |
| Median (50th) | $82,660 | +33.4% |
| 75th | $102,770 | +65.9% |
| 90th | $112,880 | +82.2% |
| Mean | $85,280 | +37.6% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane | $65,940 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Seattle run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $82,660 buys what $77,252 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 24.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$82,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$77,252US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $82,660 a year, 33.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,890 to $112,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Spokane, at $65,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreational Therapists in Seattle, WA?
The median annual wage is $82,660, or $39.74 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 Seattle, WA is 33.4% higher. 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 Seattle, WA earns more than $112,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,890 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 Spokane, at $65,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Seattle, WA. 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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