Home / Federal careers / GS-0189
Recreation Aid and Assistant
Federal position providing support for recreation programs and activities including equipment management, facility maintenance, and program assistance at military installations and federal facilities.
What GS-0189 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-0189, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Technical and Medical Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0189:
Specialized Experience (GS-4 and above): Qualifying experience includes roles such as:
- Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children
- Teaching aide in elementary school recreation or physical education
- Recreation aid/assistant during active military service
- Organization and administration of recreation activities
- Summer aid in state or national parks with visitor recreational duties
- Sales or stock clerk in recreation supplies shops
- Hotel or resort recreation service assistant
- Property issuance and inventory control work in recreation facilities
Education and Training Requirements:
- GS-3: Successful completion of 1 year of study above high school
- GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation
- GS-5: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education
Experience and Education Requirements by Grade Level (Group Standard):
| Grade | General Experience | Specialized Experience | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | None | None | None |
| GS-2 | 3 months | None | High school diploma or equivalent |
| GS-3 | 6 months | None | 1 year above high school |
| GS-4 | 6 months | 6 months | 2 years above high school |
| GS-5 | None | 1 year at GS-4 level | 4-year bachelor's degree |
| GS-6+ | None | 1 year at next lower grade | Graduate education if directly related |
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-0189
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Services
Air Force Services specialists directly manage and support recreational activities, making them ideal candidates for recreation aid roles.
Skills that carry over: Activity Support, Customer Service, Equipment Management.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7.
Marine Corps Community Services Marine
GS-0189 Recreation Aid and Assistant is an entry point for the recreation track, useful for transitioning Marines targeting NAF recreation roles before stepping up to 0188.
Skills that carry over: Program support, Activity coordination, Patron services.
Usually opens at: GS-4, GS-5, GS-7.
Yeoman
Yeomen handle administrative tasks and often support recreational activities, providing a moderate fit for recreation aid roles.
Skills that carry over: Customer Service, Facility Support, Activity Support.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Assist with recreation programs
- Set up equipment and facilities
- Supervise recreational activities
- Maintain recreation supplies
- Assist participants
Key competencies
Activity Support
Ability to assist with recreational activities and programs.
Customer Service
Skill in serving recreation participants professionally.
Equipment Management
Ability to set up and maintain recreation equipment.
Safety Awareness
Knowledge of recreation safety procedures.
Facility Support
Skill in maintaining recreation facilities and areas.
Group Leadership
Ability to lead basic recreational activities.
Communication
Skill in explaining rules and procedures to participants.
Scheduling
Ability to assist with facility scheduling and reservations.
Inventory
Skill in maintaining recreation supply inventories.
First Aid
Basic knowledge of first aid procedures.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-0189
What is a Recreation Aid?
A GS-0189 Recreation Aid provides support for recreation programs at federal facilities. These paraprofessionals assist with activities, maintain equipment, and help visitors at military MWR, VA recreation therapy, and National Park Service programs.
How much does a Recreation Aid make?
Recreation Aids earn between $25,142 (GS-2 Step 1) and $44,786 (GS-5 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Most positions are GS-3/4/5, earning $27,434-$44,786 annually. Many positions are part-time or seasonal.
What are the requirements for GS-0189?
Entry-level positions require general experience demonstrating ability to work with people and equipment. No specific degree is required. Higher grades require progressively more recreation program support experience.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0189?
Military experience with MWR, outdoor recreation, or fitness programs provides relevant background. Those who worked in recreation support, equipment issue, or activity centers have directly applicable experience.
What is the career progression for Recreation Aid?
Recreation Aids progress from GS-2/3 (entry) through GS-4/5 (senior). Many advance to GS-0188 Recreation Specialist positions with additional experience or education. The aid track provides foundation for recreation careers.
How do I apply for GS-0189 jobs?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Recreation Aid' or '0189' series. Military MWR, VA, and NPS hire recreation aids. These entry-level positions are good starting points for federal careers. Highlight customer service and activity experience.
Ready to apply for GS-0189?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.