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Recreation specialist salary
Average recreation specialist salary
$39,186
Understanding Recreation Specialist Salaries
The Recreation Specialist role is vital in fostering community engagement through recreational programs. As of October 2025, the average annual salary stands at $39,186, or about $19 per hour. This figure reflects the standard compensation for professionals in various sectors, including public parks and private recreation facilities.
Salary Variations by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earnings. For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the demand for recreational services in urban areas. In contrast, states with lower living costs may present lower salary figures for this role.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary potential. Entry-level positions may start around $30,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can command upwards of $50,000. Professional certifications and specialized skills further enhance earning potential.
Career Opportunities
Recreation specialists can explore various job opportunities, from organizing community events to managing sports programs. As demand for recreational services increases, so do the prospects for career advancement and salary growth in this fulfilling field.
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Where can a Recreation Specialist earn more?
Recreation specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average recreation specialist salary by state
The average recreation specialist salary in Mississippi, Wyoming, and West Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average recreation specialist salary states are Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for recreation specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $42,847 | $20.60 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| 5 | Mississippi | $55,653 | $26.76 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $42,492 | $20.43 |
| 7 | New York | $45,499 | $21.87 |
| 8 | Colorado | $47,465 | $22.82 |
| 9 | Montana | $43,848 | $21.08 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $45,944 | $22.09 |
| 11 | Washington | $47,022 | $22.61 |
| 12 | Delaware | $41,465 | $19.94 |
| 13 | Idaho | $42,966 | $20.66 |
| 14 | Arizona | $40,018 | $19.24 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $44,502 | $21.40 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,545 | $21.42 |
| 17 | Alaska | $39,659 | $19.07 |
| 18 | Alabama | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| 19 | Oregon | $42,675 | $20.52 |
| 20 | Missouri | $42,326 | $20.35 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $39,946 | $19.20 |
| 22 | Maine | $43,349 | $20.84 |
| 23 | Maryland | $41,608 | $20.00 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $39,114 | $18.80 |
| 25 | Vermont | $40,673 | $19.55 |
| 26 | Florida | $36,657 | $17.62 |
| 27 | California | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 28 | Iowa | $34,761 | $16.71 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $40,905 | $19.67 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $36,641 | $17.62 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $43,444 | $20.89 |
| 32 | Georgia | $36,408 | $17.50 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $35,088 | $16.87 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $40,255 | $19.35 |
| 35 | Nevada | $34,543 | $16.61 |
| 36 | Virginia | $38,074 | $18.30 |
| 37 | Kansas | $33,985 | $16.34 |
| 38 | Utah | $34,164 | $16.43 |
| 39 | New Jersey | $37,996 | $18.27 |
| 40 | Michigan | $33,768 | $16.23 |
| 41 | Texas | $35,068 | $16.86 |
| 42 | Illinois | $37,531 | $18.04 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $35,096 | $16.87 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $32,357 | $15.56 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $33,214 | $15.97 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $33,298 | $16.01 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $27,794 | $13.36 |
| 50 | Indiana | $32,305 | $15.53 |
| 51 | Ohio | $30,643 | $14.73 |
Highest paying cities for recreation specialists
The highest-paying cities for recreation specialists are Loveland, CO, Lakewood, WA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loveland, CO | $47,525 | $22.85 |
| 2 | Lakewood, WA | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $45,547 | $21.90 |
| 4 | Gilroy, CA | $43,648 | $20.98 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $43,581 | $20.95 |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $42,557 | $20.46 |
| 7 | Florissant, MO | $42,303 | $20.34 |
| 8 | Columbia, MD | $41,617 | $20.01 |
| 9 | Gilbert, AZ | $40,049 | $19.25 |
| 10 | Erie, PA | $39,806 | $19.14 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $39,584 | $19.03 |
| 12 | Lakewood, NJ | $38,036 | $18.29 |
| 13 | Norfolk, VA | $38,027 | $18.28 |
| 14 | Waukegan, IL | $37,634 | $18.09 |
| 15 | Sarasota, FL | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | $36,142 | $17.38 |
| 17 | Lawton, OK | $35,008 | $16.83 |
| 18 | Des Moines, IA | $34,768 | $16.72 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $34,727 | $16.70 |
| 20 | Rock Hill, SC | $33,388 | $16.05 |
Recreation specialist salary details
A recreation specialist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a recreation specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $39,186 | $3,266 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying recreation specialist jobs
The highest paying types of recreation specialists 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 |
| Program Lead | $100,727 | $8,394 | $48.43 | 61,632 |
| Summer Camp Counselor | $25,618 | $2,135 | $12.32 | 31,954 |
| Sports Coordinator | $42,562 | $3,547 | $20.46 | 17,725 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for recreation specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP
Associate Professor, Recreation Management Program Director, Springfield College
Source
Top companies hiring recreation specialists now:
Which companies pay recreation specialists the most?
Recreation specialist salaries at Harlem Children's Zone and Pasco are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recreation specialist salary at companies like New York State Restaurant Association and Martha O'Bryan are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlem Children's Zone | $44,205 | $21.25 |
| 2 | Pasco | $43,974 | $21.14 |
| 3 | New York State Restaurant Association | $43,699 | $21.01 |
| 4 | Martha O'Bryan | $42,308 | $20.34 |
| 5 | The Children's Village | $41,149 | $19.78 |
| 6 | Brigham Moore | $40,866 | $19.65 |
| 7 | Education and Training Resource | $40,231 | $19.34 |
| 8 | Washington State University | $40,089 | $19.27 |
| 9 | comhar | $40,076 | $19.27 |
| 10 | The GEO Group | $40,063 | $19.26 |
| 11 | Village of Tequesta | $40,062 | $19.26 |
| 12 | Indian Health Service | $39,832 | $19.15 |
| 13 | Champaign Park District | $39,817 | $19.14 |
| 14 | Arc-Com | $39,718 | $19.10 |
| 15 | NANA | $39,702 | $19.09 |
| 16 | Chugach Alaska | $39,595 | $19.04 |
| 17 | Minnesota Limited | $39,582 | $19.03 |
| 18 | Americorps | $39,577 | $19.03 |
| 19 | INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES | $39,559 | $19.02 |
| 20 | MINACT | $39,551 | $19.01 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Recreation specialist salary trends
The average recreation specialist salary has risen by $8,695 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recreation specialist earned $30,491 annually, but today, they earn $39,186 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for recreation specialists over the last decade.
Compare recreation specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average recreation specialist salary over time
Compare recreation specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recreation specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,200 | $18.84 | +7.3% |
| 2025 | $36,300 | $17.45 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $32,900 | $15.81 | +2.3% |
Recently added recreation specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army | Fitness & Recreation Specialist | Rowe, MA | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| The Children's Home | Recreation Specialist | Penfield, NY | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| The Bizzell Group | Recreation Specialist | Long Beach, CA | 06/28/2025 | $35,896 |
| Mecklenburg County, Nc | Recreation Specialist-Athletics | Boone, NC | 06/26/2025 | $42,387 |
| City of Medford | Barre, Mat Pilates, Hiit Instructor/Recreation Specialist | Moro, OR | 06/26/2025 | $46,937 |
| Lantern Community Services Inc. | Recreation Specialist | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $51,591 |
| Department of The Air Force | Supervisory Recreation Specialist | Alexander City, AL | 06/26/2025 | $73,045 |
| York County, Sc | Recreation Specialist | York, SC | 06/25/2025 | $33,350 |
| SSM Health | Recreation Specialist-PRN, Weekends | Saint Louis, MO | 06/25/2025 | $45,684 |
| City of El Cajon, Ca | Recreation Specialist I/II Skatepark Instructor | El Cajon, CA | 06/24/2025 | $34,060 |
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