Recreation workers
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.
Recreation workers conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. The role reports a median annual salary of $35,380 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows low AI exposure (0.40 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £26,934 a year for Sports and leisure assistants (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £23,762 to £30,474 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 6211). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Recreation workers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
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Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Psychology
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Recreation workers 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.
How much does Recreation workers earn?
The median annual salary for Recreation workers in the US is $35,380.
What is the job outlook for Recreation workers?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 327,700 workers.
How do I become recreation workers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Recreation workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation, Instructing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Recreation workers?
Our AI-durability model gives Recreation workers a score of 0.40 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Recreation workers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.