Recreational Therapists Salary in CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Recreational Therapists in CA have a median annual salary of $98,170, with 1,920 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $60,940 at the 10th percentile to $115,370 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$98,170

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$47.20

Employment

1,920

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$60,940
10th
$79,820
25th
$98,170
Median
$107,830
75th
$115,370
90th

Local compared with national

CA

$98,170

Median annual · 2025

United States

$61,960

Median annual · 2025

The CA median is 58.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $36,210).

Top skills

  1. 1.Service OrientationImportance 4.1
  2. 2.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
  3. 3.SpeakingImportance 4.0
  4. 4.Social PerceptivenessImportance 4.0
  5. 5.CoordinationImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.9
  7. 7.WritingImportance 3.9
  8. 8.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.9
  9. 9.InstructingImportance 3.9
  10. 10.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.5
  11. 11.Active LearningImportance 3.4
  12. 12.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.4

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • Avid Technology Sibelius
  • Email software
  • Hyperscore
  • MakeMusic Finale
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
  • Patient electronic medical record EMR software
  • Speech recognition software
  • Steinberg Cubase Pro
  • Web browser software

Common tasks

  • Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
  • Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
  • Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
  • Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
  • Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
  • Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients, themselves, to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.
  • Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
  • Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
  • Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
  • Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Recreational Therapists salary in other locations

Other occupations in CA