Recreation Workers Salary
Recreation Workers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO make a median of $39,640 a year, or about $19.06 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers.
So what does $40K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About recreation workers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for recreation workers in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $38K | , |
| Boulder | $39K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $38K | , |
| Greeley | $37K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level recreation workers (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Recreation Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46K | +27% | 470 |
| Washington | $45K | +23% | 6,380 |
| South Dakota | $42K | +16% | 650 |
| Hawaii | $41K | +12% | 1,590 |
| California | $40K | +9% | 48,560 |
| Oregon | $40K | +8% | 4,640 |
| Colorado | $39K | +6% | 6,100 |
| Massachusetts | $39K | +5% | 11,280 |
| New York | $38K | +4% | 24,790 |
| Minnesota | $38K | +3% | 7,940 |
| Alaska | $38K | +3% | 630 |
| Vermont | $37K | +2% | 840 |
| Maine | $37K | +2% | 1,260 |
| North Dakota | $37K | +2% | 730 |
| Maryland | $37K | +2% | 4,350 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | +1% | 2,030 |
| New Jersey | $37K | +1% | 7,550 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +0% | 5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | -1% | 770 |
| Virginia | $36K | -1% | 9,260 |
| Arizona | $36K | -2% | 12,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -2% | 9,850 |
| Wisconsin | $36K | -3% | 6,840 |
| Florida | $35K | -3% | 18,010 |
| Illinois | $35K | -3% | 17,650 |
| Michigan | $35K | -4% | 10,850 |
| Montana | $35K | -4% | 800 |
| Nebraska | $35K | -5% | 1,510 |
| Missouri | $34K | -6% | 5,380 |
| Delaware | $34K | -8% | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $34K | -8% | 2,870 |
| Tennessee | $34K | -8% | 3,420 |
| Utah | $33K | -10% | 5,760 |
| Texas | $33K | -11% | 18,660 |
| North Carolina | $33K | -11% | 9,520 |
| Georgia | $33K | -11% | 8,160 |
| Ohio | $32K | -11% | 12,340 |
| Kentucky | $32K | -11% | 3,290 |
| New Mexico | $32K | -13% | 870 |
| Kansas | $32K | -13% | 2,990 |
| Oklahoma | $32K | -14% | 2,380 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -14% | 5,270 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -16% | 790 |
| Indiana | $30K | -17% | 8,050 |
| Nevada | $30K | -18% | 2,570 |
| Idaho | $30K | -18% | 2,080 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -19% | 1,410 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -22% | 2,830 |
| Alabama | $28K | -22% | 4,700 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -23% | 2,220 |
| Arkansas | $28K | -24% | 1,740 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track recreation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 76.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreation workers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation workers typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,901/month.
Is recreation worker a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for recreation workers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +8%.
How much do recreation workers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $39,640 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,680, and experienced recreation workers can clear $50,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,679/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 76.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a recreation workers salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median recreation workers salary is worth about $39,640 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do recreation workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.