Recreation Workers

Recreation workers organize, conduct, and promote a variety of group activities for leisure and other purposes. Activities may include arts and crafts, sports, or music.

Duties

Recreation workers typically do the following:

• Organize, conduct, and promote recreational activities
• Explain the rules of activities and instruct participants at a variety of skill levels
• Modify activities to suit the needs of specific participants, such as seniors
• Explain safety procedures to reduce and prevent injuries
• Administer basic first aid as needed
• Perform administrative tasks, such as helping participants complete paperwork

Duties of recreation workers vary by job title, level of training, and other factors. For example, camp counselors work directly with youths in overnight or day camps and guide participants in activities and interactions with others.

Recreation workers may specialize in a particular activity, such as swimming, drama, or arts and crafts. They also may organize and promote a number of recreation programs for one or more facilities. Some recreation workers assist others at every phase, such as by setting up equipment, helping participants during activities, and cleaning and maintaining the equipment or facility.

In addition, recreation workers sometimes have office duties. For example, they may assist participants in completing forms or create calendars and newsletters to promote certain activities or programs.

Workers in similar occupations may focus on recreation with a different purpose. For example, entertainment and recreation managers plan and direct activities and operations related to fitness and leisure. Recreational therapists use medical-based activities to treat people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Self-enrichment teachers instruct participants in activities for personal improvement or recreation.

Recreation workers held about 327,700 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of recreation workers were as follows:

Recreation workers may spend much of their time outdoors leading activities such as hiking or soccer. Others coordinate indoor activities, such as drama or karate. Workers who plan programs and events may spend much of their time in an office.

Injuries and Illnesses

Recreation workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as using proper exercise form and keeping recreation areas free of obstacles.

Work Schedules

Most recreation workers are full time, but many work part-time, irregular, or seasonal hours. For example, camp counselors may work primarily in the evening or on weekends, or they may be employed only during the summer.

Recreation workers typically need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, although requirements may vary by type of job. Once hired, these workers typically need a short period of on-the-job training.

The median annual wage for recreation workers was $35,380 in May 2024.

Employment of recreation workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 68,100 openings for recreation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.