Recreation Workers Salary in Knoxville, TN
Recreation Workers in Knoxville, TN make a median of $31,720 a year, or about $15.25 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $34,266 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month — about 64.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $32K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About recreation workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level recreation workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $46K | +29% | 510 |
| Washington | $44K | +24% | 4,630 |
| South Dakota | $41K | +17% | 570 |
| Alaska | $40K | +13% | 430 |
| North Dakota | $38K | +7% | 930 |
| California | $38K | +6% | 48,580 |
| Minnesota | $38K | +6% | 6,430 |
| Oregon | $37K | +6% | 3,980 |
| New York | $37K | +5% | 19,550 |
| Vermont | $37K | +5% | 840 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +4% | 10,730 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | +2% | 710 |
| Maine | $36K | +2% | 1,280 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +1% | 8,040 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +0% | 4,870 |
| Arizona | $35K | -0% | 11,820 |
| Virginia | $35K | -0% | 8,260 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -1% | 2,020 |
| Maryland | $34K | -3% | 4,000 |
| Florida | $34K | -4% | 16,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $34K | -4% | 10,540 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | -4% | 6,320 |
| Illinois | $34K | -4% | 16,150 |
| Michigan | $34K | -5% | 11,370 |
| Montana | $33K | -6% | 990 |
| Hawaii | $33K | -8% | 1,590 |
| North Carolina | $32K | -10% | 9,020 |
| Tennessee | $32K | -11% | 3,150 |
| Georgia | $32K | -11% | 7,610 |
| New Mexico | $32K | -11% | 870 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -11% | 4,400 |
| Texas | $31K | -12% | 16,590 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -12% | 600 |
| Delaware | $31K | -12% | 1,120 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -12% | 2,390 |
| Utah | $31K | -12% | 5,950 |
| Ohio | $31K | -12% | 12,310 |
| Missouri | $31K | -13% | 5,530 |
| Oklahoma | $31K | -13% | 2,270 |
| Iowa | $30K | -14% | 2,570 |
| Kansas | $30K | -14% | 3,430 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -15% | 1,870 |
| Indiana | $29K | -18% | 6,150 |
| Nevada | $29K | -18% | 2,600 |
| Idaho | $29K | -18% | 1,820 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -18% | 1,670 |
| Alabama | $27K | -23% | 4,640 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -23% | 2,130 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -25% | 2,730 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -25% | 1,680 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track recreation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do recreation workers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $31,720 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,100, and experienced recreation workers can clear $45,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,294/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $34,266 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.