SOC 39-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Recreation Workers — Paducah
Paducah, KY-IL · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Recreation Workers in Paducah, KY is $28,380 per year, 22.4% 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 Paducah, KY is $28,380 per year, 22.4% below the national median of $36,560. Pay ranges from under $22,370 at the tenth percentile to more than $46,430 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,060 to $37,560.
Employment stands at 70, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Elizabethtown leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 197th of 207 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,370 | −38.8% |
| 25th | $27,060 | −26.0% |
| Median (50th) | $28,380 | −22.4% |
| 75th | $37,560 | +2.7% |
| 90th | $46,430 | +27.0% |
| Mean | $32,040 | −12.4% |
Other metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabethtown | $35,460 | 70 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $32,720 | 540 | |
| 3 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $30,190 | 1,310 | |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $29,180 | 230 | |
| 5 | Owensboro | $27,000 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Paducah run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,380 goes as far as $31,463 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,463US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,380 a year, 22.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,370 to $46,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elizabethtown, at $35,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Recreation Workers in Paducah, KY?
The median annual wage is $28,380, or $13.64 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 Paducah, KY is 22.4% 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 Paducah, KY earns more than $46,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,370 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 Elizabethtown, at $35,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Paducah, KY. 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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