Recreation Worker Salary in New York, NY
Recreation Workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $38,440 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,588 take-home, or $2,632 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,433
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- New York income tax$1,479
- Take-home pay$31,588
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,066 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,522 ($2,543 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Recreation Worker pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,460 | $16.57 | $28,605 | $2,384 |
| 25th percentile | $35,740 | $17.18 | $29,564 | $2,464 |
| Median (50th) | $38,440 | $18.48 | $31,588 | $2,632 |
| 75th percentile | $46,480 | $22.35 | $37,614 | $3,134 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,990 | $26.44 | $43,992 | $3,666 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,440 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $31,588 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,062 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | New York, NY | $38,440 | $31,588 | $28,062 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in New York, NY?
The median recreation worker salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $38,440 a year, or about $18.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,740 and $46,480.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $38,440 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,588 a year ($2,632 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,479 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,062 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #24 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 90% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
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- Residential Advisor — $47,510
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- Childcare Worker — $37,870
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