Recreation Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Recreation Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $40,380 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,496 take-home, or $2,791 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,666
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,504
- Medicare (1.45%)$586
- California income tax$605
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$525
- Take-home pay$33,496
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Recreation Worker pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,790 | $17.69 | $30,802 | $2,567 |
| 25th percentile | $38,030 | $18.28 | $31,732 | $2,644 |
| Median (50th) | $40,380 | $19.41 | $33,496 | $2,791 |
| 75th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 | $36,550 | $3,046 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,480 | $23.31 | $39,545 | $3,295 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,380 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $33,496 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,937 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of recreation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA | $40,380 | $33,496 | $29,937 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $57,580
- San Francisco, CA — $46,290
- Sacramento, CA — $38,820
- Riverside, CA — $37,850
- Los Angeles, CA — $38,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median recreation worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $40,380 a year, or about $19.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,030 and $44,450.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $40,380 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,496 a year ($2,791 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,129 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,937 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #13 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 88% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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