Recreation Worker salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Recreation Workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $31,580 a year ($15.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,810 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $36,560. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $32,720. There are 1.7 recreation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $34,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for recreation workers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,050 | $10.12 |
| 25th percentile | $25,060 | $12.05 |
| Median | $31,580 | $15.18 |
| 75th percentile | $39,750 | $19.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| Average (mean) | $34,490 | $16.58 |
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 | $2,631.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,315.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,214.62 |
| Weekly | $607.31 |
| Hourly | $15.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Recreation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,050 | 2,310 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,820 | 410 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,730 | 290 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,550 | 1,060 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $35,790 | 280 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $35,400 | 50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,590 | 80 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $33,700 | 130 |
| Florence, SC | $33,250 | 140 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $32,920 | 510 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $32,720 | 410 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $31,720 | 890 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,280 | 220 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,030 | 600 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,550 | 550 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,200 | 890 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $30,160 | 1,600 |
| Columbia, SC | $30,140 | 880 |
| Sumter, SC | $29,970 | n/a |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $29,860 | 460 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,320 | 190 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $28,280 | 380 |
| Burlington, NC | $27,860 | 140 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $24,840 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for recreation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46,460 |
| Washington | $44,890 |
| South Dakota | $42,270 |
| Hawaii | $41,000 |
| California | $39,780 |
| Oregon | $39,610 |
| Colorado | $38,820 |
| Massachusetts | $38,540 |
| New York | $38,040 |
| Alaska | $37,510 |
See Recreation Worker pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $28,900 | $13.89 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| Animal Caretaker | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $30,720 | $14.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $34,950 | $16.80 |
| Skincare Specialist | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Funeral Attendant | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $33,400 | $16.06 |
More: Personal Care and Service Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for recreation workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $31,580 a year, or $15.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid recreation workers make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of recreation workers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $50,810 a year. The top 25% earn $39,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for recreation workers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,050 a year, and a quarter of recreation workers earn $25,060 or less.
How many recreation workers work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 2,280 recreation workers are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.