Recreation Worker Salary in Allentown, PA
Recreation Workers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median $34,620 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,934 take-home, or $2,411 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Allentown, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,974
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,146
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,063
- Take-home pay$28,934
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Allentown, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,800 | $12.88 | $22,857 | $1,905 |
| 25th percentile | $31,100 | $14.95 | $26,214 | $2,185 |
| Median (50th) | $34,620 | $16.64 | $28,934 | $2,411 |
| 75th percentile | $43,270 | $20.80 | $35,619 | $2,968 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,540 | $26.22 | $44,329 | $3,694 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,620 buys in Allentown, PA
Prices in Allentown, PA are 0.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.06× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $28,934 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,944 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 Allentown, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Allentown, PA ranks #85 of 119 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College Station, TX | $47,870 | $40,644 | $44,687 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $57,580 | $46,193 | $41,832 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $45,990 | $39,133 | $35,213 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $36,080 | $30,059 | $33,862 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $39,260 | $33,725 | $33,609 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $38,230 | $32,898 | $33,547 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $37,460 | $32,279 | $33,506 |
| 8 | Des Moines, IA | $36,150 | $30,505 | $33,265 |
| 85 | Allentown, PA | $34,620 | $28,934 | $28,944 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 119 metros →
Recreation Worker salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,980
- Scranton, PA — $34,580
- Lancaster, PA — $35,640
- Harrisburg, PA — $34,710
- Philadelphia, PA — $35,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Allentown, PA?
The median recreation worker salary in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $34,620 a year, or about $16.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,100 and $43,270.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Allentown, PA?
On the median $34,620 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,934 a year ($2,411 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,063 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Allentown, PA a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 0.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,944 would in a typical U.S. city. Allentown, PA ranks #85 of 119 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Allentown, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Allentown, PA is $1,365 a month ($1,667 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Allentown, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $48,990
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $46,110
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $37,690
- Childcare Worker — $32,220
- Animal Caretaker — $32,220
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $30,050
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,690