Minnesota / Veterans Affairs Department / Recreation Therapist

Job-title file

Recreation Therapist

Assess client needs, develop service plans, and connect people with support resources.

13 employees hold this title in Veterans Affairs Department. Median total compensation for the role is $65,648, above the department median of $55,734.

Employees: 13
Total payroll: $877.7K
Role median: $65,648
Agency median: $55,734
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$55,806$81,779+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 13 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Recreation Therapist pay vs. Minnesota

Across all employers in Minnesota, the median wage for Recreational Therapists — about 250 people — is $76,360. Veterans Affairs Department pays a median base salary of $64,350 for this role, 16% below that figure — about the 24th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Veterans Affairs Department sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$55,210

$65,160

$76,360

$84,200

$97,570

Veterans Affairs Department median · $64,350

The bar is the range of annual wages for Recreational Therapists across every employer in Minnesota, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Recreational Therapists — about 14,930 people — is $61,960. Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary is 4% above that national figure, about the 53rd percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,990

$50,240

$61,960

$79,930

$100,420

Veterans Affairs Department median · $64,350

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Minnesota range relative to the national one.

Median total compensation for this role at Veterans Affairs Department is $65,648, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across Minnesota

Recreation Therapist is held in 4 Minnesota departments. In Veterans Affairs Department, the median of $65,648 ranks #1 of 4.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Corrections Department

$63,964 · 4

Direct Care and Treatment Department

$63,605 · 5

Human Services Department

$60,005 · 7

Median total compensation for the Recreation Therapist role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Recreation Therapist beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 5 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $62,828 ranks #4 of 5. See Recreation Therapist across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$148,170 · 34

$121,434 · 9

$78,358 · 13

$53,863 · 42

Median total compensation for comparable Recreation Therapist roles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Jeani Trosvig

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$82,796

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Direct Care
Base pay: $76,166
Overtime: $5,630
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,796
Hire date: 2019-05-29
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jeani Trosvig holds the role of Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh Fergus Falls Direct Care. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $82,796. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Olena Miller

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$78,557

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $76,254
Overtime: $1,303
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,557
Hire date: 2013-02-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Olena Miller works as a Recreation Therapist for Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. They have served since 2013 (about 12 years) as a full-time employee. Olena earned $78,557 in 2025. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Sara Grogg

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$77,816

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $76,210
Overtime: $1,606
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,816
Hire date: 2003-01-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sara Grogg holds the role of Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. They have served since 2003 (about 22 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $77,816. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Jennifer Kraus

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$77,183

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $76,237
Overtime: $945
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,183
Hire date: 2008-06-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Jennifer Kraus is a Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. Their tenure dates to 2008, about 17 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $77,183. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Katherine Wrich

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$69,058

Sub-department: MVH-Hastings Recreation
Base pay: $69,025
Overtime: $28
Other pay: $6
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,058
Hire date: 2006-09-20
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Katherine Wrich holds the role of Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Hastings Recreation. Hired in 2006, they have about 19 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,058. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Christa Tremewan

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$67,529

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $66,717
Overtime: $812
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,529
Hire date: 2010-09-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Christa Tremewan works as a Recreation Therapist for Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. Hired in 2010, they have about 15 years of service as a full-time employee. Christa earned $67,529 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Jacklyn Maxwell

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$65,648

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $64,350
Overtime: $1,299
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,648
Hire date: 2019-04-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Jacklyn Maxwell serves as a Recreation Therapist within Mpls Recreation Staff. They have served since 2019 (about 6 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $65,648. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Lori Ruble

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$63,336

Sub-department: Mpls Doms Staff
Base pay: $61,771
Overtime: $564
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $63,336
Hire date: 2018-02-07
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lori Ruble works as a Recreation Therapist for Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Doms Staff. Their tenure dates to 2018, about 7 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. Lori earned $63,336 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Linnea Gunard

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$62,828

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $61,709
Overtime: $1,087
Other pay: $31
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,828
Hire date: 2022-07-13
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Linnea Gunard works as a Recreation Therapist for Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service as a full-time employee. Linnea earned $62,828 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Katharine Nickerson

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$62,385

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $61,310
Overtime: $1,075
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,385
Hire date: 2016-02-22
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Katharine Nickerson holds the role of Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. Hired in 2016, they have about 9 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $62,385. They are represented by MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Emily Miene

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$58,644

Sub-department: Mpls Adult Day Staff
Base pay: $57,644
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,644
Hire date: 2022-02-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Emily Miene is a Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Adult Day Staff. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $58,644. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Shaely Rakow

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$56,100

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $54,892
Overtime: $1,207
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $56,100
Hire date: 2023-01-11
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Shaely Rakow is a Recreation Therapist at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Recreation Staff. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $56,100. Their bargaining unit is MN Assoc of Professional Empl.

Taylor Woltman

Recreation Therapist/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$55,806

Sub-department: Mpls Recreation Staff
Base pay: $53,973
Overtime: $1,650
Other pay: $182
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $55,806
Hire date: 2023-07-12
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 7
Union / bargaining unit: MN Assoc of Professional Empl
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 214
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Taylor Woltman serves as a Recreation Therapist within Mpls Recreation Staff. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $55,806. Union affiliation: MN Assoc of Professional Empl.