How much does a Recreational Therapists actually take home in Colorado?
4.4% flat rate — 20.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-02
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Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Recreational Therapists earning $54,470 in Colorado (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $54,470 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,552 | 8.4% |
| Colorado State Income Tax | -$2,396 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,377 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$789 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$11,116 | 20.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $43,353 | 79.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Recreational Therapists in Colorado.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $41,620 | -$8,025 | $33,594 | 19.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $52,050 | -$10,534 | $41,515 | 20.2% |
| Median (P50) | $54,470 | -$11,116 | $43,353 | 20.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $67,760 | -$14,913 | $52,846 | 22.0% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,820 | -$19,700 | $62,119 | 24.1% |
After federal income tax ($4,552), state tax ($2,396), and FICA ($4,166), a Recreational Therapists in Colorado takes home $43,353 per year — or $3,612 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.4% is relatively low compared to the national range.
Where does a Recreational Therapists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Colorado ranks #20 out of 45 states for Recreational Therapists after-tax take-home pay.
A Recreational Therapists in Colorado earning a median salary of $54,470 will take home approximately $43,353 per year after federal income tax ($4,552), state income tax ($2,396), and FICA ($4,166). That is $3,612 per month or $1,667 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Recreational Therapists in Colorado is 20.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.4%, Colorado state tax 4.4%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Colorado has a 4.4% flat rate. On a Recreational Therapists's median salary of $54,470, the state income tax amounts to $2,396 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Recreational Therapists in Colorado takes home approximately $3,612 per month, or about $20.84 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 2024 BLS median salary of $54,470 for Recreational Therapists in Colorado, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Colorado state income tax (4.4% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $43,353/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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