Recreation Worker salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Recreation Workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $42,800 a year ($20.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,000 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $36,560. Pay here is 8% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $46,460. There are 1.4 recreation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $45,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for recreation workers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| 25th percentile | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Median | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| 75th percentile | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Average (mean) | $45,450 | $21.85 |
Half of recreation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,566.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,783.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,646.15 |
| Weekly | $823.08 |
| Hourly | $20.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Recreation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $38,880 | 100 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,050 | 2,310 |
| Morgantown, WV | $36,650 | 80 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $36,360 | 330 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,780 | 1,900 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,710 | 5,160 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $35,620 | 150 |
| Salisbury, MD | $35,310 | 70 |
| Richmond, VA | $34,700 | 1,320 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $34,000 | n/a |
| Lynchburg, VA | $33,970 | n/a |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $33,770 | 110 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $33,660 | 220 |
| Roanoke, VA | $33,210 | 540 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $32,150 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,080 | 140 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $31,050 | 160 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,240 | 200 |
| Beckley, WV | $29,430 | 100 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $29,210 | 70 |
| Charleston, WV | $28,420 | 120 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $27,900 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for recreation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46,460 |
| Washington | $44,890 |
| South Dakota | $42,270 |
| Hawaii | $41,000 |
| California | $39,780 |
| Oregon | $39,610 |
| Colorado | $38,820 |
| Massachusetts | $38,540 |
| New York | $38,040 |
| Alaska | $37,510 |
See Recreation Worker pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Residential Advisor | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Animal Caretaker | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Concierge | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $42,040 | $20.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $53,310 | $25.63 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $49,300 | $23.70 |
| Skincare Specialist | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $46,130 | $22.18 |
More: Personal Care and Service Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-9032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for recreation workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $42,800 a year, or $20.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid recreation workers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of recreation workers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $62,000 a year. The top 25% earn $49,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for recreation workers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,910 a year, and a quarter of recreation workers earn $36,420 or less.
How many recreation workers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 4,360 recreation workers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.