Careers / Recreation Workers

Recreation Workers — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$36,560

United States, 2025

Employment

331,490

United States, 2025

Typical education

Bachelor's Degree

Job Zone 4

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

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.

O*NET code
39-9032.00
Job zone
4
Experience required
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Typical tasks

  • 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.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$27,600
10th
$31,780
25th
$36,560
Median
$43,470
75th
$50,410
90th

10th percentile

$27,600

25th percentile

$31,780

75th percentile

$43,470

90th percentile

$50,410

Most important skills

  • Service Orientation4.0
  • Active Listening4.0
  • Coordination4.0
  • Speaking4.0
  • Social Perceptiveness4.0
  • Instructing3.8
  • Monitoring3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Time Management3.3
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Writing3.1
  • Active Learning3.1

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 18 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

18

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Active Listening4.04.0Not selected4.0
Coordination4.04.0Not selected4.0
Speaking4.04.0Not selected4.0
Social Perceptiveness4.04.0Not selected4.0
Service Orientation4.03.8Not selected3.8
Instructing3.83.4Not selected3.4
Monitoring3.83.4Not selected3.4
Critical Thinking3.33.6Not selected3.6
Management of Personnel Resources3.13.4Not selected3.4
Time Management3.33.1Not selected3.1
Reading Comprehension3.13.3Not selected3.3
Writing3.13.1Not selected3.1
Active Learning3.13.1Not selected3.1
Learning Strategies3.13.1Not selected3.1
Persuasion3.13.1Not selected3.1
Complex Problem Solving3.13.0Not selected3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.03.0Not selected3.0
Negotiation3.02.9Not selected2.9

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
Fairbanks, AK$61,040502025
San Jose, CA$57,5802,6202025
College Station, TX$47,8701,1702025
DC$46,4604702025
San Francisco, CA$46,2906,5102025
Bend, OR$46,2302902025
Seattle, WA$45,9903,6002025
Bozeman, MT$45,010702025
WA$44,8906,3802025
Bellingham, WA$44,6402602025
Kennewick, WA$43,4601202025
Mount Vernon, WA$43,3801602025
Bremerton, WA$43,0602202025
Washington, DC$42,8004,3602025
Napa, CA$42,6702402025
Portland, OR$42,5802,6602025
SD$42,2706502025
Kahului, HI$41,420602025
Urban Honolulu, HI$41,0001,4102025
HI$41,0001,5902025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Recreation Workers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.