Recreation Workers: Career Overview
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Recreation Workers Take On?
The core tasks performed by recreation workers include:
- 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.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
Skills and Knowledge
Top recreation workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Recreation Workers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Activities Aide
- Activities Assistant
- Activities Associate
- Activities Coordinator
- Activities Counselor
- Activities Director
- Activities Leader
- Activity Aide
Employment and Demand
There are about 74,944 recreation workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.5% over the projection horizon.
Recreation Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $41,302 |
| Hourly median | $19.86 |
| 10th percentile | $23,280 |
| 25th percentile | $32,291 |
| 75th percentile | $50,314 |
| 90th percentile | $59,325 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Recreation Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $45,760 |
| Washington | $43,850 |
| South Dakota | $41,380 |
| Alaska | $39,830 |
| North Dakota | $37,920 |
| California | $37,580 |
| Minnesota | $37,500 |
| Oregon | $37,440 |
| New York | $37,270 |
| Vermont | $37,160 |
| Colorado | $37,110 |
| Massachusetts | $36,960 |
| Rhode Island | $36,080 |
| Maine | $35,920 |
| New Jersey | $35,720 |
| Connecticut | $35,520 |
| Arizona | $35,340 |
| Virginia | $35,260 |
| New Hampshire | $35,180 |
| Maryland | $34,200 |
| Florida | $34,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,050 |
| Wisconsin | $33,910 |
| Illinois | $33,830 |
| Michigan | $33,520 |
| Montana | $33,310 |
| Hawaii | $32,610 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,900 |
| North Carolina | $31,680 |
| Tennessee | $31,620 |
| Georgia | $31,520 |
| New Mexico | $31,510 |
| South Carolina | $31,370 |
| Texas | $31,290 |
| Wyoming | $31,200 |
| Delaware | $31,190 |
| Kentucky | $31,100 |
| Utah | $31,060 |
| Ohio | $31,030 |
| Missouri | $30,910 |
| Oklahoma | $30,650 |
| Iowa | $30,460 |
| Kansas | $30,370 |
| Nebraska | $30,110 |
| Indiana | $29,140 |
| Nevada | $29,130 |
| Idaho | $29,120 |
| West Virginia | $29,050 |
| Guam | $28,030 |
| Alabama | $27,320 |
| Mississippi | $27,200 |
| Louisiana | $26,530 |
| Arkansas | $26,520 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,060 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for recreation workers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $37,573 | 19.9% | 1.24 |
| New England | $36,353 | 6.6% | 1.40 |
| Middle Atlantic | $35,872 | 14.1% | 0.94 |
| Plains States | $33,270 | 6.9% | 1.01 |
| Rocky Mountains | $33,053 | 4.6% | 1.26 |
| Southwest | $32,767 | 10.2% | 1.07 |
| Great Lakes | $32,561 | 16.8% | 1.20 |
| Southeast | $31,811 | 20.7% | 0.87 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $54,990 | 2,640 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $46,480 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $45,170 | 2,500 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | TX | $45,110 | 1,100 |
| Rapid City, SD | SD | $44,150 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $44,070 | 6,330 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $42,010 | 140 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $40,920 | 60 |
Which Industries Hire Recreation Workers
The bulk of recreation workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 90,990 | $36,320 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 33,470 | $31,560 |
| Educational Services | 29,340 | $36,040 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 28,260 | $35,040 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 9,860 | $33,060 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 3,110 | $36,640 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,790 | $31,550 |
| Retail Trade | 1,330 | $31,040 |
Below are examples of industries where recreation workers work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of recreation workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Education and Training
Typical recreation workers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Training and Development Managers (Primary-Long)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (Primary-Short)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Primary-Long)
- Training and Development Specialists (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring recreation workers typically earn programs in:
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness Studies, and Kinesiology
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.