Recreational Therapist State Salary. The United States has a wide range of average salaries for Recreational Therapists. Each state is unique. The range is as low as $16.00 in Mississippi to a high of $25.39 in Connecticut. A number of factors contribute to the average hourly pay of a Recreational therapist. Some typical factors include: Supply and demand Union representation (States that have higher union activity earn an average of 20% more in pay and benefits for all employees)