SOC 39-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreation Workers — North Carolina
North Carolina · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Recreation Workers in North Carolina is $32,720 per year, 10.5% below the national median of $36,560.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Recreation Workers in North Carolina is $32,720 per year, 10.5% below the national median of $36,560. Half of workers earn between $26,450 and $41,100. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $22,060 and the ninetieth at $50,810.
Employment stands at 9,520, or 1.9 jobs per thousand held locally. North Carolina ranks number 34th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Asheville records the highest median at $36,820. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 711th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,060 | −39.7% |
| 25th | $26,450 | −27.7% |
| Median (50th) | $32,720 | −10.5% |
| 75th | $41,100 | +12.4% |
| 90th | $50,810 | +39.0% |
| Mean | $35,250 | −3.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asheville | $36,820 | 410 | |
| 2 | Wilmington | $36,730 | 290 | |
| 3 | Goldsboro | $35,400 | 50 | |
| 4 | Pinehurst | $34,590 | 80 | |
| 5 | Jacksonville | $33,700 | 130 | |
| 6 | Winston-Salem | $32,920 | 510 | |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $32,720 | 410 | |
| 8 | Durham | $31,720 | 890 | |
| 9 | Charlotte | $31,580 | 2,280 | |
| 10 | Hickory | $31,280 | 220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $32,720 goes as far as $34,698 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,698US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,720 a year, 10.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,060 to $50,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Asheville, at $36,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreation Workers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $32,720, or $15.73 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 North Carolina is 10.5% lower. 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 North Carolina earns more than $50,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,060 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 Asheville, at $36,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 9,520 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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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