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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.
Other titles employers use
Activities Assistant · Activities Director · Activity Aide · Activity Assistant · Activity Coordinator · Activity Director · Recreation Assistant · Recreation Coordinator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, persuading and practical work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.2 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 62%
- High school or less 26%
- A two-year degree 8%
- A certificate or some college 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Office suite software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Computer based training software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 47,300
- Job openings each year
- 9,630
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 11.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 47,300 | 9,630 | 11.3% |
| New York | 26,040 | 460 | 21.5% |
| Florida | 22,110 | 4,500 | 14.0% |
| Texas | 19,300 | 3,930 | 16.6% |
| Wisconsin | 12,840 | 2,620 | 7.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 11,590 | 2,360 | 3.6% |
| Michigan | 11,560 | 2,360 | 2.3% |
| Illinois | 10,920 | 2,230 | 4.6% |
| Ohio | 10,400 | 2,120 | 2.0% |
| New Jersey | 9,400 | 1,920 | 5.6% |
| North Carolina | 7,830 | 1,590 | 12.8% |
| South Carolina | 7,660 | 1,560 | 10.7% |
| Washington | 7,570 | 1,680 | 18.3% |
| Arizona | 7,240 | 1,470 | 12.4% |
| Virginia | 6,810 | 1,390 | 6.6% |
| Georgia | 6,750 | 1,370 | 11.9% |
| Indiana | 6,640 | 1,350 | 8.1% |
| Colorado | 6,570 | 1,340 | 13.1% |
| Minnesota | 6,210 | 1,270 | 4.7% |
| Connecticut | 6,090 | 1,240 | 10.3% |
| Utah | 5,810 | 1,180 | 24.1% |
| Missouri | 5,690 | 1,160 | 5.8% |
| Maryland | 4,980 | 1,010 | 10.4% |
| Iowa | 4,850 | 990 | 9.5% |
| Tennessee | 4,490 | 920 | 20.1% |
| Alabama | 4,340 | 880 | 5.9% |
| Massachusetts | 3,890 | 790 | 7.5% |
| Kentucky | 3,660 | 750 | 6.7% |
| Louisiana | 3,620 | 740 | 7.7% |
| Oregon | 3,550 | 720 | 17.5% |
| Oklahoma | 3,210 | 650 | 9.6% |
| Kansas | 3,180 | 650 | 6.4% |
| Nebraska | 2,990 | 610 | 6.8% |
| Nevada | 2,600 | 530 | 12.1% |
| Mississippi | 2,030 | 410 | 9.1% |
| New Hampshire | 1,870 | 380 | 7.5% |
| Arkansas | 1,660 | 340 | 5.1% |
| Montana | 1,570 | 320 | 14.6% |
| Idaho | 1,320 | 270 | 13.8% |
| New Mexico | 1,300 | 270 | 11.1% |
| West Virginia | 1,300 | 270 | 13.0% |
| Maine | 1,120 | 230 | — |
| North Dakota | 1,030 | 210 | 7.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,000 | 200 | 9.9% |
| Delaware | 960 | 200 | 11.6% |
| Alaska | 950 | 190 | 9.2% |
| South Dakota | 860 | 180 | 4.9% |
| Rhode Island | 680 | 140 | 13.3% |
| Vermont | 650 | 130 | 18.2% |
| Wyoming | 520 | 100 | 15.6% |
| Guam | 60 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Central Michigan University
- Degrees each year
- 13
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Salisbury University
- Degrees each year
- 7
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 7
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
State University of New York at Cortland
- Degrees each year
- 6
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Elon University
- Degrees each year
- 6
- Admit rate
- 67%
- Annual cost after aid
- $24,000
Warren Wilson College
- Degrees each year
- 6
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Sterling College
- Degrees each year
- 6
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Unity Environmental University
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 82%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000