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Career

Recreation Workers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $36,560 Median per year · $17.58/hr Most earn $27,600–$50,410

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
  • Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
  • Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints.
  • Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
  • Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
  • Provide for entertainment and set up related decorations and equipment.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 67,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals32.3%
  • Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)10.6%
  • Civic and social organizations7.6%
  • Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly7.3%
  • Fitness and recreational sports centers4.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Recreation Workers usually need a bachelor's degree plus about 1 to 2 years of related experience, so this is not a job you can typically start straight out of high school. Many people build that experience through internships and part-time work during college, which can shorten the time after graduation.

  1. Bachelor's degree in recreation, parks and leisure studies, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn how to plan programs, work with different age groups, and manage facilities, which are the core skills this job uses every day.

  2. Recreation Aide

    1-2 years

    Working directly with groups in parks, community centers, or camps builds the hands-on experience employers look for and shows you can lead activities safely.

  3. Recreation Worker

    Ongoing

    You plan, promote, and run activities such as sports, arts and crafts, games, and outdoor trips, adjusting them to the interests of each group.

Where it can lead

  1. Recreation Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from running activities to overseeing a facility or program, including staff scheduling, budgets, and planning for the whole site.

  2. Social and Community Service Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You lead larger community programs, often across several sites or agencies, and usually need more years of experience and management skills to get there.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take classes in health, physical education, or psychologyThese subjects build knowledge about how people learn, move, and enjoy activities, which is useful in recreation work.
  • Volunteer at a community center, park, or youth programHelping run games or events shows you what the job is like and gives you experience to list on applications.
  • Join a club or team that plans events, like student council or a sports clubPlanning activities for other students is practice for organizing and promoting recreation programs.
  • Get a summer job as a camp counselor or pool attendantWorking with groups of kids or families teaches you to keep people engaged and safe, which is central to this career.

In college

  • Major in recreation, parks and leisure studies, or a related fieldA degree in this area is the typical education for Recreation Workers and teaches program planning and facility management.
  • Take courses in program planning, event management, and group leadershipThese classes prepare you to design activities that fit the needs and interests of different groups.
  • Apply for internships at parks departments, nonprofits, or recreation centersInternships count toward the 1 to 2 years of related experience employers usually expect.
  • Earn first aid and CPR certificationThis is a common requirement for recreation jobs and shows employers you can keep participants safe.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for seasonal or part-time jobs at community centers, summer camps, or city parks departments. Employers in this field often value hands-on experience as much as the degree.
  • Get certified in first aid and CPR early. Many recreation employers ask for it, and it is usually inexpensive and quick to complete.
  • Keep a simple record of the activities you have planned or led, such as a camp week or a sports league. It makes your resume stronger when you apply for jobs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Outdoor Education Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $30,117 a year · typical debt $27,359

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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