Recreation workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Mean (average) | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 90th percentile | $50,410 | $24.24 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Recreation workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,360 | $19,150 | $45,110 | 4,700 | 1.04 |
| Alaska | $37,510 | $36,720 | $66,140 | 630 | 0.91 |
| Arizona | $35,800 | $31,130 | $51,310 | 12,650 | 1.83 |
| Arkansas | $27,770 | $23,700 | $42,530 | 1,740 | 0.63 |
| California | $39,780 | $35,900 | $56,150 | 48,560 | 1.25 |
| Colorado | $38,820 | $31,080 | $53,580 | 6,100 | 1 |
| Connecticut | $36,610 | $34,010 | $51,340 | 5,000 | 1.38 |
| Delaware | $33,790 | $31,200 | $44,930 | 1,230 | 1.19 |
| District of Columbia | $46,460 | $37,990 | $66,750 | 470 | 0.31 |
| Florida | $35,490 | $29,130 | $49,130 | 18,010 | 0.85 |
| Georgia | $32,540 | $22,340 | $48,870 | 8,160 | 0.78 |
| Hawaii | $41,000 | $31,690 | $45,270 | 1,590 | 1.19 |
| Idaho | $30,100 | $21,150 | $50,370 | 2,080 | 1.14 |
| Illinois | $35,480 | $31,200 | $47,480 | 17,650 | 1.36 |
| Indiana | $30,190 | $22,470 | $45,710 | 8,050 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | $33,700 | $24,420 | $46,740 | 2,870 | 0.86 |
| Kansas | $31,760 | $22,160 | $45,250 | 2,990 | 0.98 |
| Kentucky | $32,400 | $22,770 | $46,120 | 3,290 | 0.77 |
| Louisiana | $28,580 | $19,300 | $45,320 | 2,830 | 0.69 |
| Maine | $37,450 | $30,790 | $53,620 | 1,260 | 0.92 |
| Maryland | $37,200 | $32,390 | $56,160 | 4,350 | 0.74 |
| Massachusetts | $38,540 | $32,910 | $50,090 | 11,280 | 1.45 |
| Michigan | $35,090 | $29,020 | $47,740 | 10,850 | 1.16 |
| Minnesota | $37,510 | $29,460 | $52,190 | 7,940 | 1.26 |
| Mississippi | $28,060 | $19,350 | $40,710 | 2,220 | 0.9 |
| Missouri | $34,320 | $28,600 | $46,830 | 5,380 | 0.86 |
| Montana | $35,090 | $29,070 | $50,020 | 800 | 0.74 |
| Nebraska | $34,590 | $28,520 | $46,500 | 1,510 | 0.69 |
| Nevada | $30,150 | $26,930 | $50,220 | 2,570 | 0.78 |
| New Hampshire | $37,040 | $27,040 | $51,240 | 2,030 | 1.39 |
| New Jersey | $36,880 | $32,220 | $49,240 | 7,550 | 0.83 |
| New Mexico | $31,900 | $26,510 | $52,960 | 870 | 0.47 |
| New York | $38,040 | $33,260 | $54,610 | 24,790 | 1.2 |
| North Carolina | $32,720 | $22,060 | $50,810 | 9,520 | 0.9 |
| North Dakota | $37,310 | $22,250 | $54,000 | 730 | 0.79 |
| Ohio | $32,420 | $24,580 | $47,220 | 12,340 | 1.04 |
| Oklahoma | $31,580 | $21,330 | $47,390 | 2,380 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $39,610 | $32,330 | $56,730 | 4,640 | 1.11 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,710 | $24,940 | $55,030 | 9,850 | 0.76 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,210 | $21,840 | $31,890 | 850 | 0.42 |
| Rhode Island | $36,340 | $31,290 | $52,920 | 770 | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | $31,420 | $21,050 | $48,230 | 5,270 | 1.07 |
| South Dakota | $42,270 | $32,390 | $60,470 | 650 | 0.67 |
| Tennessee | $33,580 | $23,960 | $46,550 | 3,420 | 0.49 |
| Texas | $32,720 | $22,910 | $47,870 | 18,660 | 0.62 |
| Utah | $32,890 | $22,520 | $47,450 | 5,760 | 1.56 |
| Vermont | $37,450 | $32,130 | $51,310 | 840 | 1.29 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,400 | $28,130 | $41,620 | 30 | 0.46 |
| Virginia | $36,120 | $27,390 | $53,800 | 9,260 | 1.06 |
| Washington | $44,890 | $35,660 | $59,790 | 6,380 | 0.84 |
| West Virginia | $29,710 | $22,340 | $53,400 | 1,410 | 0.94 |
| Wisconsin | $35,530 | $26,440 | $50,980 | 6,840 | 1.09 |
| Wyoming | $30,720 | $25,720 | $49,300 | 790 | 1.31 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for recreation workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 67,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for recreation workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Outdoor Education CIP 31.0601
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Appletree
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- GroupMe
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Publisher
- Recordkeeping software
- Scheduling software
- YouTube
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Instructing, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Activities Assistant, Activities Director, Activity Aide, Activity Assistant, Activity Coordinator, Activity Director, Recreation Assistant, Recreation Coordinator, Recreation Supervisor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do recreation workers make?
The national median annual wage for recreation workers was $36,560 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $27,600 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $50,410. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do recreation workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is recreation workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of recreation workers to change +4.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 67,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay recreation workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($46,460), Washington ($44,890), South Dakota ($42,270). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.