Recreation Workers Salary
Recreation Workers in Tennessee make a median of $33,580 a year, or about $16.14 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $37,403 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 50.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Tennessee?
About recreation workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Recreation workers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 50.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level recreation workers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation Workers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $37K | +12% | 1,070 |
| Knoxville | $35K | +4% | 400 |
| Jackson | $34K | -0% | 60 |
| Memphis | $33K | -3% | 970 |
| Chattanooga | $32K | -4% | 250 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $31K | -7% | 140 |
| Johnson City | $30K | -10% | 80 |
| Morristown | $30K | -11% | 70 |
| Clarksville | $29K | -15% | 100 |
| Cleveland | $23K | -31% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track recreation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a recreation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 50.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation workers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,438/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 84% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for recreation workers?
Tennessee pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do recreation workers make in Tennessee?
The median is $33,580 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,960, and experienced recreation workers can clear $46,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,418/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 50.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $37,403 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.