Recreation Worker Salary in Detroit, MI
Recreation Workers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $34,400 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,609 take-home, or $2,384 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,948
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,133
- Medicare (1.45%)$499
- Michigan income tax$1,211
- Take-home pay$28,609
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $826 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,784 ($2,315 a month). Choose “Detroit” 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 Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,020 | $13.95 | $24,515 | $2,043 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 | $25,124 | $2,094 |
| Median (50th) | $34,400 | $16.54 | $28,609 | $2,384 |
| 75th percentile | $44,470 | $21.38 | $36,272 | $3,023 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,630 | $24.82 | $41,721 | $3,477 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,400 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $28,609 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,524 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $34,400 | $28,609 | $28,524 |
*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 Michigan
- Ann Arbor, MI — $35,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Detroit, MI?
The median recreation worker salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $34,400 a year, or about $16.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,820 and $44,470.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $34,400 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $28,609 a year ($2,384 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,211 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,524 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #21 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $46,880
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $34,960
- Childcare Worker — $31,060
- Animal Caretaker — $31,040
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,320