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How much does a recreation worker make in Chicago?

$35,830a year

Median yearly pay for recreation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $17.23 an hour or $2,986 a month.

Hourly
$17.23
Vs. national median
-2%
Rank among cities
126 of 387
Jobs in the area
13,670
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $35,830Highest 10%: $48,130
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$31,200$15.00
25th$32,810$15.77
Median$35,830$17.23
75th$41,600$20.00
90th$48,130$23.14

Other cities in Illinois

Median yearly pay for recreation workers.

Kankakee, IL$36,270
Bloomington, IL$36,030
Champaign, IL$33,910
St. Louis, MO$33,750
Rockford, IL$32,980
Peoria, IL$32,750
Decatur, IL$31,590
Springfield, IL$31,530
Davenport, IA$31,280
Cape Girardeau, MO$30,910
Paducah, KY$28,380
Recreation Worker salary in Illinois Recreation Worker salary in all states

Related jobs in Chicago

Same field, median yearly pay.

Motion Picture Projectionist$85,460
Mortician$81,440
First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Worker$68,260
Barber$49,700
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$49,240
Costume Attendant$49,180
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$48,390
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,680
Animal Trainer$46,890
Skincare Specialist$45,330
Salaries for every job in Chicago, IL

Frequently asked questions

How much does a recreation worker make an hour in Chicago?

The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $17.23 ($35,830 a year).

Do recreation workers make more in Chicago than the national average?

No: $35,830 against $36,560 nationally, 2% less.

How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?

The median in Illinois is $35,480, so Chicago pays 1% more.

Where does Chicago rank for recreation worker pay?

126 of 387 metro areas with data.

How much does a recreation worker make starting out in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,130 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.