Recreation Workers Salary
Personal Care and Service Occupations · 331K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$36,560
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$38,520
Typical range
$27,600–$50,410
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Recreation Workers is $36,560 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members..
Most earn between $27,600 and $50,410 a year. There are roughly 331K people employed as recreation workers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Recreation Workers.
- Hourly
- $17.58
- Daily
- $141
- Weekly
- $703
- Bi-weekly
- $1,406
- Monthly
- $3,047
- Annual
- $36,560
$36,560 a year is around the 50th percentile for Recreation Workerss. The median is $36,560.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$46,460
- 2Washington$44,890
- 3South Dakota$42,270
- 4Hawaii$41,000
- 5California$39,780
- 6Oregon$39,610
- 7Colorado$38,820
- 8Massachusetts$38,540
- 9New York$38,040
- 10Alaska$37,510
- 11Minnesota$37,510
- 12Maine$37,450
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Fairbanks-College, AK$61,040
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$57,580
- 3College Station-Bryan, TX$47,870
- 4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$46,290
- 5Bend, OR$46,230
- 6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$45,990
- 7Bozeman, MT$45,010
- 8Bellingham, WA$44,640
- 9Kennewick-Richland, WA$43,460
- 10Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$43,380
- 11Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$43,060
- 12Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$42,800
Related job titles
Employers advertise Recreation Workers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Recreational Therapists$61,960
- Social and Community Service Managers$80,390
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$79,520
- Rehabilitation Counselors$46,850
- Training and Development Managers$133,000
- Instructional Coordinators$77,440
- Social and Human Service Assistants$45,930
- Residential Advisors$42,240
What a Recreation Workers does
- 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.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
- Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
- Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Recreation Workers make?
- The median annual wage for Recreation Workers is $36,560 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $27,600 at the 10th percentile to $50,410 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Recreation Workers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $38,520, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Recreation Workerss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $46,460.
- Is Recreation Workers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 331K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Recreation Workers do?
- 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..