What Does it Take to Be a Recreation Worker?

Career Description 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.

Life as a Recreation Worker: What Do They Do?

• Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
• Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
• Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.
• Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
• Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
• Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.

Qualities of a Recreation Worker

Recreation Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Therapeutic Activities Services Worker
• Field Supervisor
• Group Work Program Aide
• Fitness Worker
• Parks Recreation Director

Job Outlook for Recreation Workers

There were about 390,000 jobs for Recreation Workers in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.7% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 34,000 new jobs for Recreation Workers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 70,700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Recreation Workers are New York, Texas, and California.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Recreation Worker Average Salary

Recreation Workers Make between $18,470 and $42,670 a year. A Recreation Worker median salary is $25,060.

How much do Recreation Workers make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$50,160
Alaska	$40,410
South Dakota	$33,810
Washington	$33,570
New York	$33,150
New Hampshire	$31,560
North Dakota	$31,470
Hawaii	$31,280
California	$31,180
Colorado	$31,110
Oregon	$31,090
Connecticut	$30,930
Massachusetts	$30,820
Vermont	$30,300
Idaho	$30,300
Kentucky	$30,000
Maine	$29,790
New Jersey	$29,530
Wyoming	$29,420
Minnesota	$29,390
Montana	$29,300
Rhode Island	$28,820
North Carolina	$28,610
Delaware	$28,430
Florida	$27,530
Arizona	$27,420
Nebraska	$27,320
Virginia	$27,300
Georgia	$27,060
Iowa	$26,920
Kansas	$26,790
Pennsylvania	$26,770
Maryland	$26,690
Utah	$26,590
Missouri	$26,490
South Carolina	$26,340
Michigan	$26,290
Mississippi	$26,170
Ohio	$25,850
Illinois	$25,810
Oklahoma	$25,790
Wisconsin	$25,210
Texas	$25,150
Tennessee	$25,060
Indiana	$24,600
Nevada	$24,540
Arkansas	$24,040
Alabama	$23,590
Louisiana	$23,390
New Mexico	$23,190
West Virginia	$22,990

What Tools & Technology do Recreation Workers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Recreation Workers:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint

Becoming a Recreation Worker

Education needed to be a Recreation Worker:

How Long Does it Take to Become Recreation Worker?

Where Recreation Workers Are Employed

Similar Careers

Career changers with experience as a Recreation Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
• Health Educators
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons