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Recreational Therapists Employment & Job Outlook in Illinois (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Illinois employs 440 Recreational Therapists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Illinois employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
440
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
0.44
workers
Location Quotient
1.42
vs national avg
Average Salary
$59K
annual

High Demand in Illinois

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.42 indicates that Illinois has a higher-than-average concentration of Recreational Therapists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Illinois vs National Average

Total Employed
440
National: 14,900
3.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
0.44
National: 0.31
+41.9%
Average Salary
$59K
National: $62K
-6.0%

Top States by Recreational Therapists Employment

#1
1,920
1,920
employed
#2
1,230
1,230
employed
#3
800
800
employed
#4
720
720
employed
#5
710
710
employed
#6
640
640
employed
#7
590
590
employed
#8
570
570
employed
#9
530
530
employed
#10
440
440
employed

What Does a Recreational Therapists Earn in Illinois?

The average annual salary for a Recreational Therapists in Illinois is $59,160. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Recreational Therapists jobs are there in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 440 Recreational Therapists professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Illinois among the top states nationwide.

Is Recreational Therapists in demand in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois has above-average concentration of Recreational Therapists jobs (LQ: 1.42). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Recreational Therapists in Illinois?

The average (mean) salary for Recreational Therapists in Illinois is $59160/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Recreational Therapists professionals?

The top state for Recreational Therapists employment is California with 1,920 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in Illinois

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Illinois's largest cities.

Top Colleges in Illinois

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Illinois's leading institutions.

Recreational Therapists Employment in Other States

Compare Recreational Therapists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Recreational Therapists & Illinois Resources

Drill deeper into Recreational Therapists pay, hiring, and education data for Illinois.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Recreational Therapists (SOC 291125) in Illinois.

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