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What is a recreation assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

A recreation assistant works under the guidance of a recreation manager and assists the manager in planning and implementing recreational activities. He/She is responsible for planning, setting up, and executing activities. He/She also assists participants with some of these leisure events, coordinating them and ensuring the safety of participants. In addition to cleaning and setting up equipment like tables, chairs, instruments, and electronics for different activities, your job may also include administrative tasks. This may include filing related paperwork, answering phone calls, and answering questions and inquiries. Recreation assistants often work in schools, senior centers, camps, nursing homes, and after-school centers.

A recreation assistant must have a high school diploma or GED with some experience in this field. You should have great interpersonal, relationship, and communication skills. Plus, you must be able to speak confidently at an event and demonstrate social skills. Creativity, planning, and organization skills are essential requirements as well. A recreation assistant earns up to $33,525 annually.

ScoreRecreation AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $31,040

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.1

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 5.03%

Black or African American 12.65%

Hispanic or Latino 14.80%

Unknown 5.80%

White 61.00%

Gender

female 59.12%

male 40.88%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.5

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Recreation Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a recreation assistant

  1. Explore recreation assistant education requirements

    Most common recreation assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    54.3 %

    Associate

    18.3 %

    High School Diploma

    16.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific recreation assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service31.23%
    MDS16.25%
    Recreation Programs9.28%
    CPR8.47%
    Patients7.93%
  3. Complete relevant recreation assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreation assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a recreation assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreation assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional recreation assistant certifications

    Recreation assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific recreation assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for recreation assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research recreation assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage one-on-one and group social and physical sessions with long-term nursing and short-term rehabilitation residents
    • Assist multiple MWR facilities with the upkeep, accountability and sanitation of workout and rehabilitation equipment.
    • Respond to emergency situation and administering first aid and CPR when need.
    • Assist in the setup and operation of major MWR events, such as Oktoberfest and fund raising concerts.
  6. Prepare your recreation assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreation assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a recreation assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Recreation Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Recreation Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Recreation Assistant resume.
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    Recreation Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for recreation assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a recreation assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Recreation Assistant Job

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Average recreation assistant salary

The average Recreation Assistant salary in the United States is $31,040 per year or $15 per hour. Recreation assistant salaries range between $20,000 and $46,000 per year.

Average Recreation Assistant Salary
$31,040 Yearly
$14.92 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do recreation assistants rate their job?

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Recreation Assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

learning about the residents

Cons

trying to engage people who do not want to be bothered


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Interacting with my Residents hearing their stories .

Cons

I love what I do to be able provided and encourage my resident to engage in activities ,spare there life experiences and stories its amazing They have become my other family.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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