Recreational Aide Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Recreational Aide in the United States is $45,373 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,206
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,142 to $50,520
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,468
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View as table View as graph 25% $39,142 10% $33,468 90% $55,206 75% $50,520 $45,373 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Recreational Aide Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,520 $4,210 $972 $24
Average $45,373 $3,781 $873 $22
25th Percentile $39,142 $3,262 $753 $19
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Key Factors That Influence Recreational Aide Salaries

A Recreational 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 Recreational Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Recreational 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): $44,767
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $45,200
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,064
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $48,635
  • Expert (over 8 years): $49,028
Levels Salary
Entry Level Recreational Aide$44,767
Intermediate Level Recreational Aide$45,200
Senior Level Recreational Aide$47,064
Specialist Level Recreational Aide$48,635
Expert Level Recreational Aide$49,028
$44,767 0 yr
$45,200 < 2 yrs
$47,064 2-4 yrs
$48,635 5-8 yrs
$49,028 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Recreational 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 Recreational Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $50,237.
  • California: $50,047.
  • Massachusetts: $49,380.

Top Paying Cities for Recreational 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: $57,229
  • San Francisco: $56,667
  • Oakland: $55,410

What Skills Can Increase a Recreational Aide's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.17% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Therapeutic Recreation (Mentioned in 2.93% Job Postings): Therapeutic recreation is a type of therapy that uses activities to help meet the physical and emotional needs of patients with an illness or disability and help them develop skills for daily living.
  • Cash Handling (Mentioned in 1.23% Job Postings): Process of receiving and giving money in a business. In retail, cash handling ranges from the point of sale to the behind-the-scenes money management during the day.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.17%
Therapeutic Recreation 2.93%
Cash Handling 1.23%
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 Recreational Aide's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$49,003
8%
Problem Solving
$47,642
5%
Commitment
$47,642
5%
Coaching
$47,188
4%
Leadership
$47,188
4%
Presentation
$47,188
4%
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How Education impacts a Recreational Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Recreational 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 Recreational Aide with a Bachelor's Degree is between $50,086 and $53,444).

Recreational Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Recreational Aide
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.0%
High School 5.0%
Associates 8.5%
Bachelors 57.4%
Masters 28.4%
Doctorate 0.7%
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Recreational Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Recreational 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Recreational Aide

Salaries for a Recreational Aide can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,929 in 2023 to around $50,033 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Recreational Aide salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Recreational Aide Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,929
2024
$50,387
2025
$50,033
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,929
2024 $50,387
2025 $50,033
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Recreational Aide

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

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

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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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