SOC 39-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreation Workers — New York
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 10 metro areas compared
At $38,440, median pay for Recreation Workers in New York, NY tracks the national median of $36,560 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $38,440, median pay for Recreation Workers in New York, NY tracks the national median of $36,560 closely. Pay ranges from under $34,460 at the tenth percentile to more than $54,990 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,740 to $46,480.
Employment stands at 21,900, or 2.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Kiryas Joel records the highest median at $37,650. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 722nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,460 | −5.7% |
| 25th | $35,740 | −2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $38,440 | +5.1% |
| 75th | $46,480 | +27.1% |
| 90th | $54,990 | +50.4% |
| Mean | $42,620 | +16.6% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiryas Joel | $37,650 | 670 | |
| 2 | Binghamton | $36,170 | 260 | |
| 3 | Rochester | $35,840 | 1,400 | |
| 4 | Kingston | $35,730 | 210 | |
| 5 | Albany | $35,410 | 1,060 | |
| 6 | Glens Falls | $34,840 | 150 | |
| 7 | Syracuse | $34,800 | 660 | |
| 8 | Ithaca | $34,770 | 170 | |
| 9 | Elmira | $34,560 | 100 | |
| 10 | Utica | $33,890 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $38,440 buys what $35,626 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,626US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,440 a year, 5.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,460 to $54,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 21,900 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kiryas Joel, at $37,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreation Workers in New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $38,440, or $18.48 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $36,560, so pay in New York, NY is 5.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in New York, NY earns more than $54,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,460 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kiryas Joel, at $37,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 21,900 jobs in this occupation in New York, NY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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