Recreation workers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Recreation workers in the United States earn a median salary of $36,560 per year — about $18 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 328K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical presence, manual instruction, and real-time interpersonal interaction in unpredictable environments like camps and community centers. While AI can assist with peripheral administrative tasks like scheduling, program planning, and creating newsletters, it cannot replace the physical supervision, safety monitoring, and emotional leadership required to manage group activities.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AKBEST VALUE | $61,040 | Above avg (103.2) | $59,143 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,870 | Below avg (91.0) | $52,633 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,580 | Above avg (110.4) | $52,145 |
| Rapid City, SD | $39,850 | Below avg (89.2) | $44,695 |
| Bend, OR | $46,230 | Above avg (103.6) | $44,621 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $40,050 | Below avg (90.6) | $44,190 |
| Bozeman, MT | $45,010 | Average (102.5) | $43,908 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $43,460 | Average (100.1) | $43,426 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $39,140 | Below avg (90.2) | $43,387 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $37,470 | Below avg (86.4) | $43,377 |
| Bellingham, WA | $44,640 | Above avg (103.3) | $43,200 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $37,420 | Below avg (86.7) | $43,179 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $36,200 | Below avg (85.4) | $42,377 |
| Bismarck, ND | $38,560 | Below avg (91.0) | $42,362 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $43,380 | Average (102.4) | $42,345 |