Recreation Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Recreation Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,249 take-home, or $2,271 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,249
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,910 | $11.01 | $20,476 | $1,706 |
| 25th percentile | $28,010 | $13.47 | $24,676 | $2,056 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 | $2,271 |
| 75th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 | $31,042 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,710 | $22.46 | $39,711 | $3,309 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $27,249 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,628 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $31,200 | $27,249 | $27,628 |
*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 Texas
- Dallas, TX — $32,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Houston, TX?
The median recreation worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,010 and $35,920.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $27,249 a year ($2,271 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,628 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #26 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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