Recreational Therapists Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Recreational Therapists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,460. BLS estimates approximately 340 people work in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is 12.1% below the national median ($61,960).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| 25th percentile | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| Median (50th) | $54,460 | $26.18 |
| 75th percentile | $63,450 | $30.51 |
| 90th percentile | $85,400 | $41.06 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 5.9% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 30.3% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.076
- Location quotient
- 0.79
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN’s regional price level is above the national average (index 103.595, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $52,570 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.