Recreation Worker Salary in Detroit, MI
Recreation Workers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $34,400 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,609 take-home, or $2,384 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,948
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,133
- Medicare (1.45%)$499
- Michigan income tax$1,211
- Take-home pay$28,609
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,020 | $13.95 | $24,515 | $2,043 |
| 25th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 | $25,124 | $2,094 |
| Median (50th) | $34,400 | $16.54 | $28,609 | $2,384 |
| 75th percentile | $44,470 | $21.38 | $36,272 | $3,023 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,630 | $24.82 | $41,721 | $3,477 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,400 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $28,609 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,524 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #87 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 |
| 87 | Detroit, MI | $34,400 | $28,609 | $28,524 |
*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 Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $35,970
- Kalamazoo, MI — $33,510
- Ann Arbor, MI — $35,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Detroit, MI?
The median recreation worker salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $34,400 a year, or about $16.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,820 and $44,470.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $34,400 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $28,609 a year ($2,384 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,211 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,524 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #87 of 119 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Skincare Specialist — $47,000
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $46,880
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $43,640
- Residential Advisor — $41,460
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $39,520
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $36,810
- Funeral Attendant — $35,380
- Tour and Travel Guide — $35,370
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $34,960
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $32,840
- Childcare Worker — $31,060
- Animal Caretaker — $31,040