Median Salary
$36,560
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$50,410
entry level starts ~$27,600
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 331,000 employed
How much does a Recreation Worker make?
Recreation Workers in the United States bring home a median salary of $36,560 a year, or around $17.58 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $27,600, while the top 10% earn $50,410.
That is $24,830 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Recreation Worker salary range by percentile
Half of all Recreation Workers earn between $31,780 and $43,470 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,600 | $13.27 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $31,780 | $15.28 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $36,560 | $17.58 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $43,470 | $20.90 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,410 | $24.24 |
|
Highest-paying states for Recreation Worker
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Recreation Worker pay at $46,460 a year, followed by Washington ($44,890) and South Dakota ($42,270). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $27,770 — a gap of $18,690 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Recreation Worker salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $46,460Washington $44,890South Dakota $42,270Hawaii $41,000California $39,780Oregon $39,610Colorado $38,820Massachusetts $38,540New York $38,040Alaska $37,510Minnesota $37,510Maine $37,450Vermont $37,450North Dakota $37,310Maryland $37,200New Hampshire $37,040New Jersey $36,880Connecticut $36,610Rhode Island $36,340Virginia $36,120Arizona $35,800Pennsylvania $35,710Wisconsin $35,530Florida $35,490Illinois $35,480Michigan $35,090Montana $35,090Nebraska $34,590Missouri $34,320Delaware $33,790Iowa $33,700Tennessee $33,580Utah $32,890North Carolina $32,720Texas $32,720Georgia $32,540Ohio $32,420Kentucky $32,400New Mexico $31,900Kansas $31,760Oklahoma $31,580South Carolina $31,420Wyoming $30,720Indiana $30,190Nevada $30,150Idaho $30,100West Virginia $29,710Louisiana $28,580Alabama $28,360Mississippi $28,060Arkansas $27,770
Workforce and education
About 331,000 people work as Recreation Workers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $38,520 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Recreation Worker make in the United States?
The median Recreation Worker salary in the United States is $36,560 per year, or about $17.58 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $27,600, while the top 10% of earners make $50,410 or more.
How does Recreation Worker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Recreation Worker median of $36,560 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Recreation Workers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Recreation Workers, with a median salary of $46,460 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Recreation Worker?
Becoming a Recreation Worker typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Recreation Workers work in the United States?
About 331,000 people were employed as Recreation Workers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.