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Recreational Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Recreational Assistant in the United States is $69,236 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,719
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,507 to $75,247
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,470
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Recreational Assistant Salaries

A Recreational Assistant'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 Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Recreational Assistant'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): $65,568
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,166
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,970
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $71,445
  • Expert (over 8 years): $71,887
Levels Salary
Entry Level Recreational Assistant$65,568
Intermediate Level Recreational Assistant$66,166
Senior Level Recreational Assistant$68,970
Specialist Level Recreational Assistant$71,445
Expert Level Recreational Assistant$71,887
View as Graph

How Do Recreational Assistant 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 Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,658.
  • California: $76,367.
  • Massachusetts: $75,349.

Top Paying Cities for Recreational Assistants

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: $87,327
  • San Francisco: $86,371
  • Oakland: $84,550

What Skills Can Increase a Recreational Assistant'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.3%
First Aid 2.94%
Discharge Planning 1.57%
See More Skills

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 Assistant'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 $73,390
6%
Flexibility $72,697
5%
Group Therapy $72,005
4%
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Recreational Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Recreational Assistant 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, Recreational Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Recreational Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Recreational Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$79,621$38.015%

How Education impacts a Recreational Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Recreational Assistants 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 Assistant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,034 and $64,817).

Recreational Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Recreational Assistant
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%
View as Graph

Recreational Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Recreational Assistant'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 September 01, 2026
$61,507
Average $69,236/year
$75,247
$5,126
Average $5,770/month
$6,271
$1,183
Average $1,331/week
$1,447
$30
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,247 $6,271 $1,447 $36
Average $69,236 $5,770 $1,331 $33
25th Percentile $61,507 $5,126 $1,183 $30

Most common benefits for Recreational Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Recreational Assistant

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

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FAQ about Recreational Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Recreational Assistant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Recreational Assistant 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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