West Virginia Median
$49,010
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.56
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-21% vs US median
US median $61,960
State Rank
#43 of 48
130 employed here
How much does a Recreational Therapist make in West Virginia?
A Recreational Therapist working in West Virginia earns a median salary of $49,010 per year, or about $23.56 per hour. That is 21% below the national median of $61,960 for this occupation.
Within West Virginia, entry-level pay starts around $36,580 while the top 10% make $118,410 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,460 and $62,420 a year.
Recreational Therapist salary range in West Virginia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,580 | $17.59 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $42,460 | $20.41 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,010 | $23.56 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $62,420 | $30.01 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,410 | $56.93 |
|
How West Virginia compares
West Virginia ranks 43rd 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 $51,110North Carolina $51,030Oklahoma $50,480Idaho $49,720New Mexico $49,210South Carolina $48,880South Dakota $46,850Arkansas $42,670Kansas $40,010Mississippi $39,560
Working as a Recreational Therapist in West Virginia
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 West Virginia pay ($49,010) 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 West Virginia?
The median Recreational Therapist salary in West Virginia is $49,010 per year, or about $23.56 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,580 at the entry level to $118,410 for the top 10% of earners.
How does West Virginia pay compare to the national average?
West Virginia pays Recreational Therapists about 21% less than the national median of $61,960. West Virginia ranks 43rd out of 48 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is West Virginia a good state for Recreational Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $49,010 a year. About 130 Recreational Therapists are employed in West Virginia. 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 West Virginia?
The highest-paying occupations in West Virginia include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($597,740), Emergency Medicine Physician ($491,230), Radiologist ($471,650), 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.