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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.
The Daily Work of Recreation Workers Perform?
The core tasks performed by recreation workers span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top recreation workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Activities Aide
- Activities Assistant
- Activities Associate
- Activities Coordinator
- Activities Counselor
- Activities Director
- Activities Leader
- Activity Aide
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 74,944 recreation workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Recreation Workers
| 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.
Recreation Workers Salary by State
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for recreation workers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Recreation Workers
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
Most recreation workers are found across these industries:
| 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for recreation workers is shaped by 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
How to Become Recreation Workers
Entry-level 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.
Similar Occupations
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)
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).
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