Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Recreational Therapists actually take home in Arkansas?
Progressive (up to 4.4%) — 19.1% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Recreational Therapists earning $42,670 in Arkansas (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $42,670 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,136 | 7.4% |
| Arkansas State Income Tax | -$1,757 | 4.1% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,645 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$618 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$8,158 | 19.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $34,511 | 80.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Recreational Therapists in Arkansas.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,130 | -$5,382 | $25,747 | 17.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $31,140 | -$5,385 | $25,754 | 17.3% |
| Median (P50) | $42,670 | -$8,158 | $34,511 | 19.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $49,560 | -$9,815 | $39,744 | 19.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $82,960 | -$19,968 | $62,991 | 24.1% |
After federal income tax ($3,136), state tax ($1,757), and FICA ($3,264), a Recreational Therapists in Arkansas takes home $34,511 per year — or $2,875 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.1% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Recreational Therapists in Arkansas faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.1%, keeping 80.9% of every gross dollar. That leaves $34,512 net out of $42,670 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Arkansas uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Recreational Therapists salary the state tax works out to $1,757 (4.1% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Recreational Therapists salary is $3,136 (38%), but combined state ($1,757, 22%) + FICA ($3,264, 40%) make up the other 62% of the bill.
A Recreational Therapists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $36,269 — only $1,757 (5.1%) more than in Arkansas.
Arkansas sits near the bottom (#46 of 48) for Recreational Therapists after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $34,512 net/year works out to $2,876/month or $1,327/bi-weekly for this Recreational Therapists in Arkansas — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Recreational Therapists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Arkansas ranks #46 out of 48 states for Recreational Therapists after-tax take-home pay.
A Recreational Therapists in Arkansas earning a median salary of $42,670 will take home approximately $34,511 per year after federal income tax ($3,136), state income tax ($1,757), and FICA ($3,264). That is $2,875 per month or $1,327 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Recreational Therapists in Arkansas is 19.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.4%, Arkansas state tax 4.1%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Arkansas has a progressive (up to 4.4%). On a Recreational Therapists's median salary of $42,670, the state income tax amounts to $1,757 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.1%.
After all taxes, a Recreational Therapists in Arkansas takes home approximately $2,875 per month, or about $16.59 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $42,670 for Recreational Therapists in Arkansas, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Arkansas state income tax (progressive (up to 4.4%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $34,511/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR