Recreation Assistant Jobs

Recreation Assistant jobs are open across parks and recreation departments, senior living communities, schools, and fitness centers, from entry-level to program coordinator tracks, with specializations in youth programming, adaptive recreation, and therapeutic activities. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles202+
Top stateTexas
Top employerGenesis HealthCare
Top cityGrapevine, TX
Work type71% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 202+ Recreation Assistant jobs

Assistant Director of Recreation
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Added 2d ago
Assistant Director of Recreation
Town of Barrington
Barrington, Rhode Island
Administrative & Office Support
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$55k - $59k/yr

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Parks & Recreation Operations Assistant Supervisor
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Added 2d ago
Parks & Recreation Operations Assistant Supervisor
City of Round Rock, TX
Round Rock, Texas
Administrative & Office Support
Business Operations
Project Management
$58k - $71k/yr
Associate's degree

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Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery
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Added 3d ago
Assistant Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery
City of Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$116k - $160k/yr
CPR Certification

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Therapeutic Recreation Assistant
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Added 3d ago
Therapeutic Recreation Assistant
Masonic Villages
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Higher Education
Research & Academia
Teaching & Instruction
$16.59 - $21.6/hr
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

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55+ Programs Recreation Assistant IV (Part Time)
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Added 3d ago
55+ Programs Recreation Assistant IV (Part Time)
Arlington County
Arlington, Virginia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
CPR Certification
1,001-5,000

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Recreation Assistant Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Genesis HealthCare16
  • Acts Retirement-Life Communities6
  • Kaplan Senior Living4
  • Presbyterian Homes & Services4
  • City of Grapevine3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in recreation assistant jobs.

  • CPR and First Aid certification current at time of hire
  • Experience planning or leading recreational activities for a specific population
  • Ability to pass a background check including fingerprinting
  • High school diploma or equivalent, with preference for coursework in recreation or health sciences
  • Physical ability to assist participants and set up equipment throughout a full shift
  • Familiarity with activity documentation and participant progress recordkeeping

Tips for Your Recreation Assistant Job Search

Tailor your resume to each setting

A parks department, a senior living facility, and a hospital recreation team each look for different things. Swap in the specific population you've worked with, whether that's older adults, children with disabilities, or general community members, so hiring managers see the right fit immediately.

List certifications in your header

CPR, First Aid, and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credentials get screened before interviews. Put them in your resume header or a dedicated credentials line, not buried in a skills section, so they clear applicant tracking system filters without a recruiter having to hunt.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists recreation assistant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Highlight specific program types you ran

Employers want to know whether you've led arts and crafts, fitness classes, cognitive stimulation groups, or outdoor adventure programs. Name the exact activity types in your bullet points rather than writing broadly about 'programming,' because hiring managers match candidates to their current program gaps.

Prepare concrete stories about difficult participants

Interviewers for recreation assistant roles almost always ask how you handled a participant who was disruptive, unresponsive, or in distress. Walk in with two or three specific examples that show de-escalation, adaptability, and follow-through, not just a description of your general approach.

Follow up within five business days

Recreation assistant roles at community centers and nonprofits often fill from internal referrals before postings close. A brief, specific follow-up email referencing the role and your relevant experience, sent within a week of applying, keeps your name visible when the hiring manager reviews the pool.

Recreation Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most recreation assistants?

Genesis HealthCare, Acts Retirement-Life Communities, and Kaplan Senior Living are hiring the most recreation assistants right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, New York, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be highest at senior living operators and municipal parks departments, which hire year-round.

How many recreation assistant jobs are remote?

About 29% of recreation assistant openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, since most of the role involves in-person activity facilitation and hands-on participant support. The sub-areas most likely to include remote components are administrative scheduling, program planning, and virtual wellness or cognitive engagement programs for older adults.

How do you become a recreation assistant?

Start by earning a high school diploma and completing CPR and First Aid certification, which most employers require at hire. Volunteer or intern at a community center, summer camp, senior facility, or adaptive sports program to build direct experience with a specific population. A degree or coursework in recreation, kinesiology, or a related field strengthens applications for roles in therapeutic or clinical settings, though many entry-level positions prioritize hands-on experience over formal education.

Can you get hired as a recreation assistant with no experience?

Yes, many entry-level recreation assistant roles are designed for candidates with limited paid experience, particularly at summer programs, day camps, and community recreation centers. Volunteering with youth sports leagues, after-school programs, or senior activity groups demonstrates the same core competencies hiring managers want to see, including reliability, participant engagement, and the ability to adapt activities on the fly. A current CPR card and a clear background check close most remaining gaps.

What does the recreation assistant interview process look like?

Most recreation assistant interviews involve a phone or video screen followed by one in-person round with a recreation director or program supervisor. Expect scenario-based questions about managing a participant who refuses to engage, responding to a minor injury during an activity, and adapting a planned program when supplies or space fall through. Some employers, particularly in therapeutic recreation or senior living, add a brief tour of the facility or a shadow shift before making an offer.

Where can I find and apply to recreation assistant jobs?

You can find and apply to recreation assistant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your setting preference, population focus, and availability, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 202+ Recreation Assistant Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Recreation Assistant Jobs