Recreation Worker Salary in Baltimore, MD
Recreation Workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $35,780 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,593 take-home, or $2,466 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,114
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,218
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Maryland income tax$1,336
- Take-home pay$29,593
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,150 | $15.46 | $26,849 | $2,237 |
| 25th percentile | $34,250 | $16.47 | $28,437 | $2,370 |
| Median (50th) | $35,780 | $17.20 | $29,593 | $2,466 |
| 75th percentile | $42,810 | $20.58 | $34,908 | $2,909 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,190 | $24.61 | $41,243 | $3,437 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,780 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $29,593 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,322 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 Baltimore, MD than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #90 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 |
| 90 | Baltimore, MD | $35,780 | $29,593 | $28,322 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 119 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Baltimore, MD?
The median recreation worker salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $35,780 a year, or about $17.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,250 and $42,810.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $35,780 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $29,593 a year ($2,466 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,336 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,322 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #90 of 119 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Skincare Specialist — $58,930
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $50,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $50,640
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $47,140
- Residential Advisor — $45,400
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $37,590
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $37,430
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $36,370
- Animal Caretaker — $35,420
- Childcare Worker — $34,860
- Animal Trainer — $34,620
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $33,700