Recreation Workers Salary
Recreation Workers in Ohio make a median of $32,420 a year, or about $15.59 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $35,451 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 53.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Ohio?
About recreation workers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for recreation workers in Ohio 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 $1,188/month, which is 51.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level recreation workers (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation Workers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $34K | +5% | 80 |
| Columbus | $34K | +4% | 2,550 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $33K | +2% | 720 |
| Akron | $33K | +0% | 810 |
| Cleveland | $31K | -3% | 2,550 |
| Toledo | $31K | -6% | 520 |
| Cincinnati | $30K | -8% | 2,670 |
| Mansfield | $30K | -8% | 80 |
| Canton-Massillon | $30K | -9% | 410 |
| Lima | $29K | -9% | 80 |
| Sandusky | $29K | -10% | 230 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $29K | -10% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track recreation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a recreation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 51.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation workers typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,475/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $32K here vs. $37K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for recreation workers?
Ohio pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do recreation workers make in Ohio?
The median is $32,420 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,580, and experienced recreation workers can clear $47,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,326/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 51.1% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $35,451 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.