New Jersey Median
$60,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.04
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $61,960
State Rank
#21 of 48
430 employed here
How much does a Recreational Therapist make in New Jersey?
Recreational Therapists in New Jersey take home a median of $60,400 annually — roughly $29.04 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $61,960.
Within New Jersey, entry-level pay starts around $49,810 while the top 10% make $85,580 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,890 and $75,180 a year.
Recreational Therapist salary range in New Jersey
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,810 | $23.95 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,890 | $26.87 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,400 | $29.04 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $75,180 | $36.14 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,580 | $41.14 |
|
How New Jersey compares
New Jersey ranks 21st out of 48 states and territories for Recreational Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Recreational Therapist salary in other states
California $98,170District of Columbia $95,640New Hampshire $82,280Nevada $78,730Washington $77,860Minnesota $76,360Colorado $66,580Oregon $66,530New York $65,520Hawaii $64,500Maryland $64,300Vermont $63,380Connecticut $63,240Nebraska $62,980Massachusetts $62,820Arizona $62,610Texas $62,490Michigan $61,700Virginia $61,270Ohio $60,770Wisconsin $59,350Kentucky $59,240Pennsylvania $58,940Missouri $58,620North Dakota $58,370Florida $57,980Maine $57,560Alabama $57,360Utah $56,640Iowa $56,140Illinois $54,910Indiana $53,770Georgia $52,010Tennessee $51,910Louisiana $51,150Delaware $51,110Montana $51,110North Carolina $51,030Oklahoma $50,480Idaho $49,720New Mexico $49,210West Virginia $49,010South Carolina $48,880South Dakota $46,850Arkansas $42,670Kansas $40,010Mississippi $39,560
Working as a Recreational Therapist in New Jersey
Nationally, about 15,000 people work as Recreational Therapists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare New Jersey pay ($60,400) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Recreational Therapist make in New Jersey?
The median Recreational Therapist salary in New Jersey is $60,400 per year, or about $29.04 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,810 at the entry level to $85,580 for the top 10% of earners.
How does New Jersey pay compare to the national average?
New Jersey pays Recreational Therapists about 3% less than the national median of $61,960. New Jersey ranks 21st out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is New Jersey a good state for Recreational Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $60,400 a year. About 430 Recreational Therapists are employed in New Jersey. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in New Jersey?
The highest-paying occupations in New Jersey include Radiologist ($482,700), Surgeon, All Other ($437,890), Physician, Pathologists ($355,970), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Recreational Therapist salary report
Related salaries
$45,230
median pay · 144,000 employed
$81,110
median pay · 9,000 employed
$38,150
median pay · 127,000 employed
$77,930
median pay · 23,000 employed
$60,600
median pay · 101,000 employed
$45,750
median pay · 472,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.