SOC 29-1125 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreational Therapists — Washington
Washington · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Recreational Therapists in Washington is $77,860 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 Washington is $77,860 per year, well above the national median of $61,960. The gap of 25.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $65,940 and $92,930. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $61,070 and the ninetieth at $108,200.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Washington ranks number 5th out of 48 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $82,660. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 338th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,070 | −1.4% |
| 25th | $65,940 | +6.4% |
| Median (50th) | $77,860 | +25.7% |
| 75th | $92,930 | +50.0% |
| 90th | $108,200 | +74.6% |
| Mean | $81,020 | +30.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $77,860 buys what $72,766 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$77,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,766US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $77,860 a year, 25.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,070 to $108,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 48 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $82,660.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreational Therapists in Washington?
The median annual wage is $77,860, or $37.44 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 Washington is 25.7% 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 Washington earns more than $108,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,070 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 Seattle, at $82,660 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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