Recreation Worker Salary in Columbus, OH
Recreation Workers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $33,690 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,106 take-home, or $2,425 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,863
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,089
- Medicare (1.45%)$489
- Ohio income tax$144
- Take-home pay$29,106
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $842 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,264 ($2,355 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,880 | $13.88 | $25,373 | $2,114 |
| 25th percentile | $31,280 | $15.04 | $27,236 | $2,270 |
| Median (50th) | $33,690 | $16.20 | $29,106 | $2,425 |
| 75th percentile | $37,220 | $17.89 | $31,845 | $2,654 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,520 | $23.33 | $40,614 | $3,384 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,690 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $29,106 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,487 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Recreation Worker jobs are about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #8 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $57,580 | $46,193 | $41,832 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $45,990 | $39,133 | $35,213 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,290 | $37,931 | $32,809 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $42,800 | $35,168 | $32,298 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $42,580 | $33,497 | $31,774 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | $36,840 | $31,781 | $31,501 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $39,640 | $32,995 | $31,191 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $33,690 | $29,106 | $30,487 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →
About the job: recreation workers
Conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. Organize and promote activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dramatics, social recreation, camping, and hobbies, taking into account the needs and interests of individual members.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.3% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Recreation Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $31,380
- Cincinnati, OH — $29,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Columbus, OH?
The median recreation worker salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $33,690 a year, or about $16.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,280 and $37,220.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $33,690 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $29,106 a year ($2,425 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $144 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,487 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #8 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $36,260
- Childcare Worker — $30,280