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Best states for a recreation specialist
Quoted expert
Dr. Jon McChesney
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
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- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a recreation specialist and really want to work at Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System? Turns out, your chances to become a recreation specialist are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that Wyoming is the best state for recreation specialists in America. The best city in America for recreation specialists with the highest pay is Loveland, CO.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for recreation specialists.If you are currently seeking employment as a recreation specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for recreation specialists in 2026
1. Wyoming
Total recreation specialist jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $52,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
2. North Carolina
Total recreation specialist jobs: 509 Average annual salary: $43,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. North Dakota
Total recreation specialist jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $42,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
4. West Virginia
Total recreation specialist jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $50,330 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
5. Mississippi
Total recreation specialist jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $55,653 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
6. Nebraska
Total recreation specialist jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $42,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
7. New York
Total recreation specialist jobs: 658 Average annual salary: $45,499 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
8. Colorado
Total recreation specialist jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $47,465 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Montana
Total recreation specialist jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $43,848 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
10. Minnesota
Total recreation specialist jobs: 256 Average annual salary: $45,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
Recreation specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a recreation specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a recreation specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $52,640 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $43,370 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 509 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $42,847 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 62 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $50,330 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 59 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $55,653 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 77 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $42,492 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 139 |
| 7 | New York | $45,499 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 658 |
| 8 | Colorado | $47,465 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 248 |
| 9 | Montana | $43,848 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 58 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $45,944 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 256 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,022 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 267 |
| 12 | Delaware | $41,465 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 63 |
| 13 | Idaho | $42,966 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 68 |
| 14 | Arizona | $40,018 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 313 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $44,502 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 81 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,545 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 17 | Alaska | $39,659 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 68 |
| 18 | Alabama | $40,580 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 183 |
| 19 | Oregon | $42,675 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 167 |
| 20 | Missouri | $42,326 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 222 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $39,946 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 468 |
| 22 | Maine | $43,349 | $36,000 | 1,335,907 | 42 |
| 23 | Maryland | $41,608 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 287 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $39,114 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 76 |
| 25 | Vermont | $40,673 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 26 | Florida | $36,657 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 879 |
| 27 | California | $43,198 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,066 |
| 28 | Iowa | $34,761 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 236 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $40,905 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 39 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $36,641 | $25,000 | 2,088,070 | 90 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $43,444 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 62 |
| 32 | Georgia | $36,408 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 479 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $35,088 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 151 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $40,255 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 117 |
| 35 | Nevada | $34,543 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 133 |
| 36 | Virginia | $38,074 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 392 |
| 37 | Kansas | $33,985 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 146 |
| 38 | Utah | $34,164 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 163 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $37,996 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 328 |
| 40 | Michigan | $33,768 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 349 |
| 41 | Texas | $35,068 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 832 |
| 42 | Illinois | $37,531 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 420 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $35,096 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 408 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $32,357 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 123 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $33,214 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 213 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $33,990 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 199 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $33,090 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 170 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $33,298 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 130 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,794 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 157 |
| 50 | Indiana | $32,305 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 246 |
| 51 | Ohio | $30,643 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 371 |
Highest paying states for recreation specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Recreation Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $52,640 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $43,370 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $42,847 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $50,330 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $55,653 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $42,492 |
| 7 | New York | $45,499 |
| 8 | Colorado | $47,465 |
| 9 | Montana | $43,848 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $45,944 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,022 |
| 12 | Delaware | $41,465 |
| 13 | Idaho | $42,966 |
| 14 | Arizona | $40,018 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $44,502 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,545 |
| 17 | Alaska | $39,659 |
| 18 | Alabama | $40,580 |
| 19 | Oregon | $42,675 |
| 20 | Missouri | $42,326 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $39,946 |
| 22 | Maine | $43,349 |
| 23 | Maryland | $41,608 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $39,114 |
| 25 | Vermont | $40,673 |
| 26 | Florida | $36,657 |
| 27 | California | $43,198 |
| 28 | Iowa | $34,761 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $40,905 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $36,641 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $43,444 |
| 32 | Georgia | $36,408 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $35,088 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $40,255 |
| 35 | Nevada | $34,543 |
| 36 | Virginia | $38,074 |
| 37 | Kansas | $33,985 |
| 38 | Utah | $34,164 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $37,996 |
| 40 | Michigan | $33,768 |
| 41 | Texas | $35,068 |
| 42 | Illinois | $37,531 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $35,096 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $32,357 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $33,214 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $33,990 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $33,090 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $33,298 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,794 |
| 50 | Indiana | $32,305 |
| 51 | Ohio | $30,643 |
Expert opinions on the best states for recreation specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for recreation specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jon McChesney
Department Chair & Graduate Coordinator, Eastern Kentucky University
Typically, graduates have good job opportunities throughout the United States, given the magnitude of the industry. For example, event planning was a 33% growth industry, and in 2019 tourism employed one in every ten people on Earth! Covid-19 has had a profound impact on recreation, parks, and tourism, but there will be a recovery. We are currently seeing a resurgence in outdoor recreation and people experiencing parks throughout the country. Graduates will need to continue to nurture their professional network and be patient with the current job's climate.
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Updated January 8, 2025