Recreation Workers pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,430 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Paducah earn between $27,060 and $37,560.
- $22K10th
- $27K25th
- $28KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,040 | $2,670 | $15.40 |
| Median | $28,380 | $2,365 | $13.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,060 | $2,255 | $13.01 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,560 | $3,130 | $18.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Paducah earn 6% less than the Kentucky average ($34,010) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $32,040 | $28,380 | $22,370 | $46,430 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $34,010 | $32,400 | $22,770 | $46,120 | 3,290 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $32,040, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $26,280 a year, or $2,190 a month and $1,011 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $26,479 | $2,207 |
| Working in KY | $26,280 | $2,190 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for recreation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $32,040 buys what about $37,219 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 4th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($36,890).
- Elizabethtown$36,890
- Lexington$35,540
- Louisville$33,180
- Paducah$32,040
- Bowling Green$30,150
- Owensboro$29,140
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 Paducah: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Paducah?
$15.41 an hour on average, and $13.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Paducah?
About $26,280 a year ($2,190 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,040. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do recreation workers earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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