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Recreation assistant salary
Average recreation assistant salary
$14.92
Understanding the Recreation Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Recreation Assistant is approximately $31,040 annually or $15 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities. In states such as California and New York, salaries can be significantly higher due to higher living costs and demand for recreational services.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level Recreation Assistants typically earn around $25,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $40,000 annually. This growth reflects the increasing responsibilities and skills developed over time. Many employers also offer benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for advancement.
Job Opportunities in Recreation
Recreation Assistants can find employment in various settings, including community centers, parks, and recreational facilities. As public interest in health and wellness continues to grow, so do job opportunities in this field. Those interested should consider seeking out local job boards or organizations that focus on recreational services to find available positions.
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Where can a Recreation Assistant earn more?
Recreation assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average recreation assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for recreation assistants are West Virginia, Wyoming, and Massachusetts. The lowest average recreation assistant salary states are Alabama, Georgia, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for recreation assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $40,538 | $19.49 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $40,609 | $19.52 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $38,284 | $18.41 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $40,249 | $19.35 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $40,296 | $19.37 |
| 6 | Alaska | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $38,263 | $18.40 |
| 8 | Washington | $40,248 | $19.35 |
| 9 | New York | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $35,961 | $17.29 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $37,457 | $18.01 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| 13 | Montana | $35,306 | $16.97 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $36,177 | $17.39 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $45,182 | $21.72 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $35,783 | $17.20 |
| 17 | Oregon | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 18 | Colorado | $33,649 | $16.18 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $37,241 | $17.90 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $37,144 | $17.86 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $36,137 | $17.37 |
| 22 | Vermont | $37,902 | $18.22 |
| 23 | Idaho | $34,937 | $16.80 |
| 24 | Michigan | $30,841 | $14.83 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $32,381 | $15.57 |
| 26 | California | $34,909 | $16.78 |
| 27 | Delaware | $35,656 | $17.14 |
| 28 | Maine | $34,633 | $16.65 |
| 29 | Ohio | $27,883 | $13.41 |
| 30 | Arizona | $29,033 | $13.96 |
| 31 | Maryland | $33,236 | $15.98 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $31,276 | $15.04 |
| 33 | Illinois | $30,428 | $14.63 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $26,994 | $12.98 |
| 35 | Utah | $24,913 | $11.98 |
| 36 | Missouri | $30,227 | $14.53 |
| 37 | Iowa | $28,237 | $13.58 |
| 38 | Indiana | $28,434 | $13.67 |
| 39 | Florida | $25,959 | $12.48 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $27,506 | $13.22 |
| 41 | Texas | $24,829 | $11.94 |
| 42 | Virginia | $27,531 | $13.24 |
| 43 | Kansas | $25,269 | $12.15 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $25,338 | $12.18 |
| 45 | Nevada | $22,582 | $10.86 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $25,427 | $12.22 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,851 | $11.47 |
| 48 | Alabama | $24,513 | $11.79 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $23,588 | $11.34 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $22,665 | $10.90 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $20,179 | $9.70 |
Highest paying cities for recreation assistants
The highest-paying cities for recreation assistants are Barnstable Town, MA, New York, NY, and Milwaukee, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town, MA | $40,344 | $19.40 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $38,458 | $18.49 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $37,499 | $18.03 |
| 5 | Newport, RI | $37,122 | $17.85 |
| 6 | East Brunswick, NJ | $35,741 | $17.18 |
| 7 | Kearney, NE | $35,191 | $16.92 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $33,708 | $16.21 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $33,457 | $16.09 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $32,481 | $15.62 |
| 11 | OFallon, MO | $30,433 | $14.63 |
| 12 | Leavenworth, KS | $25,702 | $12.36 |
| 13 | Ogden, UT | $25,155 | $12.09 |
| 14 | Henderson, KY | $25,067 | $12.05 |
| 15 | Georgetown, TX | $24,754 | $11.90 |
| 16 | Marietta, GA | $23,961 | $11.52 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $22,271 | $10.71 |
Recreation assistant salary details
A recreation assistant's salary ranges from $20,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a recreation assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $31,040 | $2,587 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $20,000 | $1,667 | $10 |
Highest paying recreation assistant jobs
The highest paying types of recreation assistants are senior counselor, program lead, and group leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Camp Counselor | $29,384 | $2,449 | $14.13 | 32,895 |
| Camp Counselor | $24,340 | $2,028 | $11.70 | 28,182 |
| Activities Director | $44,982 | $3,748 | $21.63 | 6,845 |
| Group Leader | $100,480 | $8,373 | $48.31 | 56,173 |
| Program Lead | $100,727 | $8,394 | $48.43 | 61,632 |
| Site Leader | $64,886 | $5,407 | $31.20 | 56,932 |
Top companies hiring recreation assistants now:
Which companies pay recreation assistants the most?
Recreation assistant salaries at National Park Foundation and Hackensack Meridian Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recreation assistant salary at companies like Catholic Health Care System and The Bristal Assisted Living are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Park Foundation | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| 2 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $34,839 | $16.75 |
| 3 | Catholic Health Care System | $33,509 | $16.11 |
| 4 | The Bristal Assisted Living | $33,492 | $16.10 |
| 5 | Developmental Disabilities Institute, Inc. | $33,327 | $16.02 |
| 6 | Avalon Health Care Group | $33,174 | $15.95 |
| 7 | East Boston Neighborhood Health Center | $33,013 | $15.87 |
| 8 | Willow Valley Communities | $32,916 | $15.82 |
| 9 | Era Living | $32,862 | $15.80 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania | $32,730 | $15.74 |
| 11 | Chapman University | $32,473 | $15.61 |
| 12 | Delhi Unified School District | $32,460 | $15.61 |
| 13 | Trinity Health | $32,402 | $15.58 |
| 14 | St. Therese Home | $32,397 | $15.58 |
| 15 | Aleut | $32,394 | $15.57 |
| 16 | Silverado | $32,244 | $15.50 |
| 17 | Lahey Health Behavioral Services | $32,113 | $15.44 |
| 18 | favarh.org | $31,989 | $15.38 |
| 19 | Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc | $31,825 | $15.30 |
| 20 | Beth Israel Lahey Health | $31,687 | $15.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Recreation assistant salary trends
The average recreation assistant salary has risen by $6,887 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recreation assistant earned $24,153 annually, but today, they earn $31,040 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for recreation assistants over the last decade.
Compare recreation assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average recreation assistant salary over time
Compare recreation assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recreation assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,000 | $14.92 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $28,800 | $13.83 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $27,400 | $13.15 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $26,800 | $12.88 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $26,100 | $12.53 | +2.3% |
Recently added recreation assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska System | Campus Recreation Assistant (Summer 2025) | Juneau, AK | 06/30/2025 | $32,495 |
| Genesis Healthcare LLC | Recreation Assistant | Bowie, MD | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Mecklenburg County, Nc | Recreation Assistant-Senior Adult Programs | Charlotte, NC | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Department of The Air Force | Recreation Assistant (Outdoor Recreation) | Valdez, AK | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Department of The Air Force | Recreation Assistant | Pope, MS | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Commonwealth Senior Living | Recreation Assistant | Middletown, CT | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Presbyterian Homes & Services | Life Enrichment Assistant/Recreation Assistant | Saint Paul, MN | 06/26/2025 | $34,060 |
| Newport News City, Va | Recreation Inclusion Assistant-Youth Programs | Newport News, VA | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Department of The Air Force | Recreation Assistant (ITT) | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $40,050 |
| Department of The Air Force | Recreation Assistant | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 06/26/2025 | $34,456 |
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