Recreation Workers pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,670 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Chico earn between $35,320 and $37,280.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
| Median | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,280 | $3,107 | $17.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Chico earn 11% less than the California average ($43,530) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $38,580 | $35,320 | $35,320 | $44,670 | 430 |
| California | $43,530 | $39,780 | $35,900 | $56,150 | 48,560 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Chico
On the average salary of $38,580, a single filer in Chico takes home about $32,500 a year, or $2,708 a month and $1,250 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for recreation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $38,580 buys what about $38,124 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 24th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($54,750).
- San Jose$54,750
- San Francisco$48,810
- Napa$45,860
- Santa Maria$45,460
- Santa Rosa$44,760
- Santa Cruz$43,410
- Sacramento$42,820
- Yuba City$42,790
- San Diego$42,610
- Chico$38,580
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
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Recreation Workers salary in Chico: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Chico?
$18.55 an hour on average, and $16.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Chico?
About $32,500 a year ($2,708 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,580. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do recreation workers earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-9032; area Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.58, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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