Recreation Workers Salary
Recreation Workers in Georgia make a median of $32,540 a year, or about $15.64 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $35,412 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 64.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $33K get you in Georgia?
About recreation workers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for recreation workers in Georgia runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 64.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for recreation workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level recreation workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation Workers salary by metro in Georgia
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins | $39K | +20% | 60 |
| Savannah | $37K | +14% | 370 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $36K | +11% | 4,420 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $35K | +8% | 170 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $34K | +5% | 240 |
| Gainesville | $30K | -8% | 160 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $30K | -8% | 460 |
| Valdosta | $29K | -11% | 100 |
| Hinesville | $29K | -12% | 40 |
| Albany | $28K | -14% | 120 |
| Columbus | $28K | -14% | 260 |
| Rome | $27K | -17% | 40 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $24K | -26% | 140 |
| Dalton | $23K | -29% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
Track recreation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 64.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreation workers in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation workers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,340/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 107% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is recreation worker a high-paying job in Georgia?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $33K here vs. $37K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for recreation workers?
Georgia pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do recreation workers make in Georgia?
The median is $32,540 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,340, and experienced recreation workers can clear $48,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,237/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 64.1% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median recreation workers salary is worth about $35,412 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.