Jobs Similar to Recreation Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to recreation workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Coaches and Scouts, Residential Advisors and Concierges.
Recreation Workers: $36,560 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Recreation Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coaches and Scouts | 80% | $47,320+29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Residential AdvisorsSame group | 78% | $42,240+16% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Concierges | 77% | $38,950+7% | High school |
| 4 | Social and Community Service Managers | 77% | $80,390+120% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 76% | $77,970+113% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 76% | $52,100+43% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 76% | $69,770Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 76% | $79,520+118% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 76% | $38,140+4% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Childcare WorkersSame group | 75% | $34,980−4% | High school |
| 11 | Clergy | 75% | $60,810+66% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | 74% | $48,590+33% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 74% | $64,330+76% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | 74% | $48,560+33% | High school |
| 15 | Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 74% | $61,160+67% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Lodging Managers | 74% | $69,250+89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | 74% | $55,010+50% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Social and Human Service Assistants | 74% | $45,930+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 73% | $106,040+190% | High school |
| 20 | Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 73% | $41,670+14% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Coaches and Scouts
80% similar · $47,320 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Residential Advisors
78% similar · $42,240 (+16%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Concierges
77% similar · $38,950 (+7%) · High school
- 4Social and Community Service Managers
77% similar · $80,390 (+120%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
76% similar · $77,970 (+113%) · Training or associate
- 6Directors, Religious Activities and Education
76% similar · $52,100 (+43%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
76% similar · $69,770 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
76% similar · $79,520 (+118%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
76% similar · $38,140 (+4%) · Training or associate
- 10Childcare Workers
75% similar · $34,980 (−4%) · High school · Same group
- 11Clergy
75% similar · $60,810 (+66%) · Graduate degree
- 12First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
74% similar · $48,590 (+33%) · Training or associate
- 13Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
74% similar · $64,330 (+76%) · Graduate degree
- 14First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services
74% similar · $48,560 (+33%) · High school
- 15Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
74% similar · $61,160 (+67%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Lodging Managers
74% similar · $69,250 (+89%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
74% similar · $55,010 (+50%) · Training or associate
- 18Social and Human Service Assistants
74% similar · $45,930 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
73% similar · $106,040 (+190%) · High school
- 20Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
73% similar · $41,670 (+14%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than recreation workers.
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives73% similar · $106,040 (+190%)
- Social and Community Service Managers77% similar · $80,390 (+120%)
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling76% similar · $79,520 (+118%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers76% similar · $77,970 (+113%)
- Lodging Managers74% similar · $69,250 (+89%)
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners74% similar · $61,160 (+67%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Residential Advisors78% similar · Training or associate
- Concierges77% similar · High school
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers76% similar · Training or associate
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education76% similar · Training or associate
- Childcare Workers75% similar · High school
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers74% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for recreation workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where recreation workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like recreation workers
What jobs are most similar to recreation workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Coaches and Scouts (80% similar), Residential Advisors (78% similar), Concierges (77% similar), Social and Community Service Managers (77% similar) and First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (76% similar).
Which jobs like recreation workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives ($106,040, +190%; usually a high school diploma), Social and Community Service Managers ($80,390, +120%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Entertainment and Recreation Managers ($79,520, +118%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with recreation workers ($36,560). Without more preparation than recreation workers usually need: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, Social and Community Service Managers and Entertainment and Recreation Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.