Recreation Workers
Also called: Activities Aide, Activities Assistant, Activities Associate, Activities Coordinator, Activities Counselor, Activities Director, Activities Leader, Activity Aide
Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities.
What recreation workers do
Typical tasks
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
- Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties.
- Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results.
- Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals.
- Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Recreation Workers salary
The median annual wage for recreation workers is $36,560 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $27,600 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $50,410. The mean annual wage is $38,520.
The mean hourly wage of $18.00 is 2.5× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Recreation Workers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $36,560 → in 3 years $40,000 → in 5 years $42,500 → in 10 years $49,500 (10-year range $42,600–$57,500). The model assumes pay growth of +3.1% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Recreation Workers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Recreation Workers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Recreation Workers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Recreation Workers United States | アウトドアインストラクター Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $36,560 | ¥4.42M ≈ $28,111 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $49,500 | ¥5.90M |
| Outlook score | 58 | 56 |
| AI replacement risk | 42% Moderate | 16% Very low |
| Workers | 331K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Recreation Workers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become recreation workers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as recreation workers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.