Recreation Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Recreation Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,249 take-home, or $2,271 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median recreation worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,249
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Recreation Worker pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,910 | $11.01 | $20,476 | $1,706 |
| 25th percentile | $28,010 | $13.47 | $24,676 | $2,056 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 | $2,271 |
| 75th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 | $31,042 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,710 | $22.46 | $39,711 | $3,309 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median recreation worker's $27,249 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,628 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for recreation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #98 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 |
| 98 | Houston, TX | $31,200 | $27,249 | $27,628 |
*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 Texas
- College Station, TX — $47,870
- Austin, TX — $38,230
- McAllen, TX — $30,870
- San Antonio, TX — $33,780
- Dallas, TX — $32,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a recreation worker make in Houston, TX?
The median recreation worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,010 and $35,920.
What is a recreation worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $27,249 a year ($2,271 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a recreation worker?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $36,560. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,628 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #98 of 119 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a recreation worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median recreation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Skincare Specialist — $48,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $46,350
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $45,410
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $44,890
- Residential Advisor — $36,510
- Tour and Travel Guide — $35,990
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $35,080
- Concierge — $34,750
- Funeral Attendant — $33,270
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $31,080
- Animal Caretaker — $30,930
- Barber — $30,690