Prevailing Wage for Recreation Workers
Prevailing wage requirements for Recreation Workers, including roles filed under titles like Activities Director, Activities Assistant, and Activity Coordinator, are set by the DOL using regional wage surveys. The DOL establishes four experience levels, each with a different wage floor, and the required minimum varies significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level recreation workers with limited professional experience and close supervision. Typically recent graduates or candidates new to organized program delivery in public, private, or nonprofit settings who perform routine tasks under direct guidance.
The most common filing level for Recreation Workers. Candidates with some professional experience who work with moderate supervision, organize standard program activities independently, and demonstrate working knowledge of participant needs and facility operations.
Experienced recreation workers who operate with significant independence, lead program components, mentor junior staff, and adapt activities to diverse populations. Typically have several years of field experience and may hold a specialty or program lead role.
Senior or lead recreation professionals who set program direction, supervise teams, and carry full responsibility for activity outcomes across a site or department. Usually have extensive experience and may hold an Activities Director or program management title.
Prevailing Wage for Recreation Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Recreation Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Recreation Workers
Watch for title mismatches on LCAs
Roles filed as Activity Coordinator or Activities Director sometimes get coded under different SOC codes by employers, which can apply the wrong wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title and the SOC code on the certified LCA match Recreation Workers SOC 39-9032.
Expect Level 2 filings in most agency settings
Public parks departments, senior centers, and nonprofit recreation agencies most often sponsor at Level 2. If you have prior program coordination experience but are offered a Level 1 wage, ask the employer to document why entry-level classification applies to your specific duties.
Factor in the coastal wage gap before relocating
San Jose and Seattle pay significantly higher prevailing wages than Gulf Coast or Puerto Rico metros for identical recreation roles. The difference between the highest and lowest metro floors for this occupation is wide enough to materially affect your budget and visa compliance.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with a record
Recreation Workers sponsorships are less common than in tech, so employer history matters. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored this occupation before, helping you focus applications on organizations with a demonstrated record of filing for recreation roles.
Jobs for Recreation Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Recreation WorkersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-9032.00 alongside Recreation Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Activities Assistant Prevailing Wage
Activities Assistant Prevailing Wage
Activities Assistant positions fall under SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Activities Director Prevailing Wage
Activities Director Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Activities Director for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Activity Aide Prevailing Wage
Activity Aide Prevailing Wage
Activity Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Activity Assistant Prevailing Wage
Activity Assistant Prevailing Wage
Activity Assistant positions fall under SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Activity Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Activity Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Activity Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Activity Director Prevailing Wage
Activity Director Prevailing Wage
Activity Director is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Recreation Assistant Prevailing Wage
Recreation Assistant Prevailing Wage
Recreation Assistant positions fall under SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Recreation Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Recreation Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Recreation Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Recreation Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Recreation Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Recreation Supervisor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Recreation Workers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. For Recreation Workers, OFLC maps the occupation to SOC 39-9032 and publishes four wage levels derived from the wage distribution within that classification for each geographic area. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's experience and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 applies to entry-level positions with close supervision and limited experience. Level 2 covers qualified workers with some independent responsibility and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced workers with greater autonomy. Level 4 covers fully competent senior professionals in lead or program director roles. Your level should reflect the actual duties and supervision structure in the job description, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same recreation role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses metropolitan-area wage surveys rather than a single national figure. Each metro's prevailing wage reflects local employer pay data collected by BLS. For Recreation Workers, the spread between high-cost metros like San Jose and lower-cost markets in Puerto Rico is substantial. The LCA rule requires the employer to use the wage floor for the specific worksite address listed on the application, not the company's headquarters location.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application to DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition without a certified LCA. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary or reclassify the position to a level consistent with the offered wage before sponsorship can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Recreation Workers location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage by SOC code 39-9032 and the worksite metropolitan area. Select the applicable wage year that matches when the LCA will be filed. You can also review O*NET for occupational context. Migrate Mate lists employers with a history of sponsoring recreation roles, filtered by location, so you can cross-reference job offers against the regional wage floor before applying.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Recreation Workers right now.
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