Recreation Workers · North Carolina

Recreation Workers Salary in North Carolina

Recreation Workers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $32,720 —10.5% below the national median of $36,560. That ranks NC #35 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$32,720
Median hourly
$15.73
Entry level (P10)
$22,060
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$50,810
90th percentile
Employment
9,520
1.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-10.5%
U.S. $36,560

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$22,060
$26,450
$32,720
$41,100
$22,060$32,720$50,810
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $32,720.

Employment concentration (0.90×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for recreation workers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$46,460$22.344700.31
2Washington$44,890$21.586,3800.84
3South Dakota$42,270$20.326500.67
4Hawaii$41,000$19.711,5901.19
5California$39,780$19.1248,5601.25
6Oregon$39,610$19.054,6401.11
7Colorado$38,820$18.676,1001.00
8Massachusetts$38,540$18.5311,2801.45
9New York$38,040$18.2924,7901.20
10Minnesota$37,510$18.037,9401.26

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$29,140$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$26,680$32,150
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$46,450$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,410$35,790
Animal Caretakers$30,870$35,360
Manicurists and Pedicurists$34,740$35,760

Frequently asked questions

How much do recreation workers make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for recreation workers in North Carolina is $32,720, or $15.73 per hour. That is 10.5% below the national median of $36,560.

What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $22,060 per year ($10.61/hour). The 25th percentile is $26,450.

How many people work as recreation workers in North Carolina?

About 9,520 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 1.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for recreation workers?

North Carolina ranks #35 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.90x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays recreation workers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $46,460 per year, followed by Washington ($44,890) and South Dakota ($42,270).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes