Recreation Workers
Recreation workers organize, conduct, and promote a variety of group activities for leisure and other purposes.
Is recreation workers a good career?
It scores 18/100 and ranks #384 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 68,100 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($36,560 vs $61,390)
What recreation workers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. recreation workers earn between $31,780 and $43,470 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live recreation workers jobs
No live recreation workers openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified recreation workers openings will appear here — each shown against the $36,560 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a recreation worker
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Some employers require recreation workers to have certifications such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or first aid. Employers also may require recreation workers to have a valid driver’s license and to pass a background check.
Optional certification for recreation workers is offered by professional organizations. Eligibility varies based on education and work experience.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Recreation workers must be able to give clear instructions, often to large groups.
Flexibility. Recreation workers must be able to adapt plans and activities to suit changing conditions and participants’ needs.
Interpersonal skills. Recreation workers must be compatible with different types of people, sometimes within a single group.
Leadership skills. Recreation workers should be able to coordinate both large and small groups, as well as groups of varying ages and abilities.
Motivational skills. Recreation workers should be able to inspire participants so that they enjoy activities.
Related occupations
How much do recreation workers make?
The national median wage is $36,560 a year, with the middle half earning between $31,780 and $43,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is recreation workers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 18 of 100 and ranks #384 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +4.1% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a recreation worker?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do recreation workers earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($46,460). Local pay for every state and metro is below.