HEALTH Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Recreation Workers

Recreation Workers earn $36,560 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $31,780 and $43,470. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

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About Recreation Workers

This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a recreation workers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Outdoor Education and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.

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.

Median Wage: $36,560
Employed Nationally: 331K
Openings / Year: 67,000
Entry Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone: Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Also known as:

Activities Aide Activities Assistant Activities Associate Activities Coordinator Activities Counselor

How Much Do Recreation Workers Make?

Most recreation workers take home around $36,560 a year, well below what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $31,780 and $43,470, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Think carefully about how much debt is worth taking on for it. Source: BLS.

A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.

$36,560

National Median (Annual)

Significantly below average. Specialized roles can raise this considerably.

$32K–$43K

Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.

Earnings Range

$31,780 Entry-level

$36,560 Median

$43,470 Experienced

What Do Recreation Workers Do?

This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.

What You'll 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.
Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Speaking Social Perceptiveness Coordination Service Orientation Active Listening

Who Thrives Here

Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

Where Do Recreation Workers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting

Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands

Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level

Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Recreation Workers?

Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.3%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 67,000 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.

Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.

↗ +4.3%

10-Year Growth (2025–2035)

About as fast as average.

67,000

Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

331K

Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Recreation Workers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $36,560 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

#	State	Jobs	Median Wage	vs. National
1	California	48,560	$39,780	+8.8%
2	New York	24,790	$38,040	+4.0%
3	Texas	18,660	$32,720	-10.5%
4	Florida	18,010	$35,490	-2.9%
5	Illinois	17,650	$35,480	-3.0%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

To get hired here you will usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.

Typical Entry Education High school diploma or equivalent

Job Zone

Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.

Degree Programs That Lead Here

#	Program	Graduates/yr	4yr Median	Colleges
1	Outdoor Education	277	$39,157	50

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Top Colleges for Aspiring Recreation Workers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

#	College	UCD Score	Net Price	Salary 10yr
1	Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC	79	$5,207	$34,145
2	Weber State University Ogden, UT	75	$10,258	$56,287
3	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC	74	$13,315	$49,458
4	Salisbury University Salisbury, MD	73	$17,743	$61,515
5	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NY	70	$22,345	$60,236
6	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	66	$17,597	$55,874

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Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Recreation Workers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if the degree that leads to Recreation Workers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Recreation Workers Pros & Cons

The data on Recreation Workers shows 4 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.

PROS

Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.3% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
Wide job market 331K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
Strong annual demand 67,000 job openings per year creates consistent hiring volume even in slower economic cycles. Entry-level candidates have real options throughout the year.
Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.

CONS

Below-average earnings Median pay of $36,560 falls below the national average for college graduates. ROI is weak at higher-cost programs. Prioritize schools with low net price.
Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $36,560 median while building the experience employers require.

Recreation Workers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Recreation Workers professionals earn?

Around $36,560 a year for the typical worker, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $31,780 and $43,470. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.

Is Recreation Workers a good career?

Recreation Workers involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. At $36,560 median, programs with high tuition are difficult to justify on salary return alone. Prioritize in-state public schools or employer-sponsored pathways. Job growth is projected at +4.3% through 2035. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.

How long does it take to work as Recreation Workers?

Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Outdoor Education are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $36,560 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.

What is the job outlook for Recreation Workers?

Employment is projected to change by +4.3% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 67,000 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 331K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.

What skills do Recreation Workers professionals need?

Mainly Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, and Active Listening. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.