North Carolina Median
$51,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$24.53
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-18% vs US median
US median $61,960
State Rank
#39 of 48
440 employed here
How much does a Recreational Therapist make in North Carolina?
Recreational Therapists in North Carolina take home a median of $51,030 annually — roughly $24.53 an hour — which runs 18% below the national median of $61,960.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $41,490 while the top 10% make $78,340 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,950 and $63,860 a year.
Recreational Therapist salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,490 | $19.95 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $45,950 | $22.09 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $51,030 | $24.53 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $63,860 | $30.70 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,340 | $37.66 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 39th 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 $60,770New Jersey $60,400Wisconsin $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 $51,110Oklahoma $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($51,030) 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 North Carolina?
The median Recreational Therapist salary in North Carolina is $51,030 per year, or about $24.53 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $41,490 at the entry level to $78,340 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Recreational Therapists about 18% less than the national median of $61,960. North Carolina ranks 39th out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Recreational Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $51,030 a year. About 440 Recreational Therapists are employed in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Recreational Therapist salary report
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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.