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Recreation Aide Salary in the United States

How much does a Recreation Aide make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Recreation Aide in the United States is $68,001 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Recreation Aide's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,872
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,274 to $74,215
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,329
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,274 10% $51,329 90% $79,872 75% $74,215 $68,001 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Recreation Aide Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,215 $6,185 $1,427 $36
Average $68,001 $5,667 $1,308 $33
25th Percentile $59,274 $4,940 $1,140 $28
Check out Recreation Aide Job Openings in the United States
Occupational Therapy Assistant

Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

RN

Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital - Columbus, OH

Travel OR RN

Titan Medical Group, LLC - Columbus, OH

Travel PCU Registered Nursein

Aya Healthcare - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Recreation Aide Salaries

A Recreation Aide's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Recreation Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Recreation Aide's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,547
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,153
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,999
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,510
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,959
Levels Salary
Entry Level Recreation Aide$66,547
Intermediate Level Recreation Aide$67,153
Senior Level Recreation Aide$69,999
Specialist Level Recreation Aide$72,510
Expert Level Recreation Aide$72,959
$66,547 0 yr
$67,153 < 2 yrs
$69,999 2-4 yrs
$72,510 5-8 yrs
$72,959 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Recreation Aide Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Recreation Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $75,291.
  • California: $75,005.
  • Massachusetts: $74,006.

Top Paying Cities for Recreation Aides

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $85,770
  • San Francisco: $84,831
  • Oakland: $83,043

What Skills Can Increase a Recreation Aide's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 10.3% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • Discharge Planning (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Developing a personalized plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organization to the patient's home or residential care.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.3%
First Aid 2.94%
Discharge Planning 1.57%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Recreation Aide's salary.
  • Dialysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Group Therapy: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dialysis
 $72,081
6%
Flexibility
 $71,401
5%
Group Therapy
 $70,721
4%
Collaboration
 $70,721
4%
Commitment
 $70,721
4%
Coordination
 $70,721
4%
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Recreation Aide Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Recreation Aide roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Recreation Aide positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Recreation Aide as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Recreation Aide

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$78,201$38.015%

How Education impacts a Recreation Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Recreation Aides enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Recreation Aide with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,034 and $64,817).

Recreation Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Recreation Aide
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.0%
High School 6.0%
Associates 3.7%
Bachelors 69.8%
Masters 19.5%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Recreation Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Recreation Aide's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$59,274
Average $68,001/year
$74,215
$4,940
Average $5,667/month
$6,185
$1,140
Average $1,308/week
$1,427
$28
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,215 $6,185 $1,427 $36
Average $68,001 $5,667 $1,308 $33
25th Percentile $59,274 $4,940 $1,140 $28

Salaries of jobs related to Recreation Aide

Salary Trends for Recreation Aide

Salaries for a Recreation Aide can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,415 in 2023 to around $114,970 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Recreation Aide salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Recreation Aide Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,415
2024
$116,811
2025
$114,970
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,415
2024 $116,811
2025 $114,970
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Recreation Aide

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Recreation Aide

Here are companies hiring for Recreation Aide and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Recreation Aide Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Recreation Aide job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS

    Columbus, OH

    USPS Postal Workers

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Recreation Aide

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Recreation Aide?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Recreation Aide roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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