Recreation Worker salary in the U.S.
Recreation Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $36,560 a year ($17.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 331,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,410 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $38,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for recreation workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| 25th percentile | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| Median | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| 75th percentile | $43,470 | $20.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| Average (mean) | $38,520 | $18.52 |
Half of recreation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,046.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,523.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,406.15 |
| Weekly | $703.08 |
| Hourly | $17.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Recreation Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46,460 | 470 |
| Washington | $44,890 | 6,380 |
| South Dakota | $42,270 | 650 |
| Hawaii | $41,000 | 1,590 |
| California | $39,780 | 48,560 |
| Oregon | $39,610 | 4,640 |
| Colorado | $38,820 | 6,100 |
| Massachusetts | $38,540 | 11,280 |
| New York | $38,040 | 24,790 |
| Alaska | $37,510 | 630 |
| Minnesota | $37,510 | 7,940 |
| Maine | $37,450 | 1,260 |
| Vermont | $37,450 | 840 |
| North Dakota | $37,310 | 730 |
| Maryland | $37,200 | 4,350 |
| New Hampshire | $37,040 | 2,030 |
| New Jersey | $36,880 | 7,550 |
| Connecticut | $36,610 | 5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $36,340 | 770 |
| Virginia | $36,120 | 9,260 |
| Arizona | $35,800 | 12,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,710 | 9,850 |
| Wisconsin | $35,530 | 6,840 |
| Florida | $35,490 | 18,010 |
| Illinois | $35,480 | 17,650 |
| Michigan | $35,090 | 10,850 |
| Montana | $35,090 | 800 |
| Nebraska | $34,590 | 1,510 |
| Missouri | $34,320 | 5,380 |
| Delaware | $33,790 | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $33,700 | 2,870 |
| Tennessee | $33,580 | 3,420 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,400 | 30 |
| Utah | $32,890 | 5,760 |
| North Carolina | $32,720 | 9,520 |
| Texas | $32,720 | 18,660 |
| Georgia | $32,540 | 8,160 |
| Ohio | $32,420 | 12,340 |
| Kentucky | $32,400 | 3,290 |
| New Mexico | $31,900 | 870 |
| Kansas | $31,760 | 2,990 |
| Oklahoma | $31,580 | 2,380 |
| South Carolina | $31,420 | 5,270 |
| Wyoming | $30,720 | 790 |
| Indiana | $30,190 | 8,050 |
| Nevada | $30,150 | 2,570 |
| Idaho | $30,100 | 2,080 |
| West Virginia | $29,710 | 1,410 |
| Louisiana | $28,580 | 2,830 |
| Alabama | $28,360 | 4,700 |
| Mississippi | $28,060 | 2,220 |
| Arkansas | $27,770 | 1,740 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,210 | 850 |
Best-paying metro areas for recreation workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $61,040 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,580 | 2,620 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,870 | 1,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,290 | 6,510 |
| Bend, OR | $46,230 | 290 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,990 | 3,600 |
| Bozeman, MT | $45,010 | 70 |
| Bellingham, WA | $44,640 | 260 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $43,460 | 120 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $43,380 | 160 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $43,060 | 220 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,800 | 4,360 |
| Napa, CA | $42,670 | 240 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $42,580 | 2,660 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $41,420 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most recreation workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,900 | $38,440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 17,850 | $38,790 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 13,670 | $35,830 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 9,200 | $36,190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 8,720 | $38,770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 6,510 | $46,290 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,610 | $35,460 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,160 | $32,720 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,160 | $35,710 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,960 | $38,180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,460 | $31,200 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,420 | $36,080 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,360 | $42,800 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,200 | $40,380 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,600 | $45,990 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $38,120 | $18.33 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-9032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for recreation workers in the U.S. is $36,560 a year, or $17.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid recreation workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of recreation workers in the U.S. earn at least $50,410 a year. The top 25% earn $43,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for recreation workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,600 a year, and a quarter of recreation workers earn $31,780 or less.
How many recreation workers work in the U.S.?
About 331,490 recreation workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.