SOC 29-1125 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · May 2025

How much do Recreational Therapists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Recreational Therapists in Kansas City, MO-KS is $45,270. The 10th percentile is $31,880 and the 90th percentile is $65,280. Employment is 210.

Median annual wage

$45,270

10th percentile
$31,880
25th percentile
$36,680
Median
$45,270
75th percentile
$60,340
90th percentile
$65,280
Mean
$49,100

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Paramedics seated in an ambulance
Paramedics in an ambulance. Photograph by Jim Legans, Jr.. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Percentile spread

For Recreational Therapists, the published 10th percentile is $31,880 and the 90th percentile is $65,280. The difference is $33,400, which is 73.8% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $36,680 to the 75th at $60,340, covers $23,660.

The mean annual wage is $49,100, which sits above the median of $45,270. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Kansas City, MO-KS median is 26.9% lower than the national median of $61,960 for Recreational Therapists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $48,918, which is 21% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 22.8% lower than the Missouri median of $58,620.

Kansas City, MO-KS covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Missouri, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Kansas City, MO-KS is 92.543, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $45,270 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Recreational Therapists at $48,918 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

5 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Recreational Therapists. Kansas City, MO-KS ranks 4th of 6 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Topeka, KS is 73 miles away, with a median of $42,180 and employment of 80. That median is 6.8% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $47,489, against $48,918 here.
  • Wichita, KS is 176 miles away, with a median of $36,780 and employment of 140. That median is 18.8% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $41,351, against $48,918 here.
  • Omaha, NE-IA is 183 miles away, with a median of $58,630 and employment of 70. That median is 29.5% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $63,790, against $48,918 here.

Employment share

Recreational Therapists accounts for 0.02% of wage-and-salary employment in Kansas City, MO-KS (210 of 1,096,110). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (14,930 of 155,495,730). The local share is 2.00 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS · Recreational Therapists by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Recreational Therapists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Recreational Therapists in Kansas City, MO-KS is $45,270. The 10th percentile is $31,880 and the 90th percentile is $65,280. Employment is 210.

How does that compare with the national median for Recreational Therapists?

The local median is 26.9% lower than the national median of $61,960.

What is Recreational Therapists pay in Kansas City, MO-KS after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Kansas City, MO-KS is 92.543, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $45,270 is $48,918. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Kansas City, MO-KS compare with nearby metros for Recreational Therapists?

Topeka, KS is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 73 miles away, at $42,180. Kansas City, MO-KS ranks 4th of 6 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.