Recreation Worker salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Recreation Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $35,830 a year ($17.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,130 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $36,560. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $35,480. There are 3.0 recreation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for recreation workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $32,810 | $15.78 |
| Median | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| 75th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Average (mean) | $38,300 | $18.42 |
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 | $2,985.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,492.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,378.08 |
| Weekly | $689.04 |
| Hourly | $17.23 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $36,270 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IL | $36,030 | 470 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,990 | 170 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $35,450 | 160 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,910 | 300 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,750 | 2,740 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,980 | 250 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,750 | 500 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,590 | 70 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,530 | 170 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,280 | 290 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,910 | 100 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $30,640 | 200 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,570 | 2,750 |
| Columbus, IN | $30,420 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,190 | 1,310 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $30,190 | 660 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $29,980 | 460 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,880 | 2,670 |
| Evansville, IN | $29,300 | 400 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,180 | 180 |
| Muncie, IN | $28,930 | 130 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $28,390 | 180 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $28,380 | 70 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,320 | 110 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,680 | $22.92 |
| Residential Advisor | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Animal Caretaker | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,390 | $23.27 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Gambling Dealer | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Baggage Porters and Bellhops | $40,390 | $19.42 |
More: Personal Care and Service Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for recreation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,830 a year, or $17.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid recreation workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of recreation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $48,130 a year. The top 25% earn $41,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for recreation workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of recreation workers earn $32,810 or less.
How many recreation workers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 13,670 recreation workers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.