Parks and Recreation Worker Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington opened its 100th public park in 2025, and the city's Parks, Recreation and Culture department hires year-round and seasonal staff to run it, with indoor lifeguards starting at $17.09 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get started.
Current parks and recreation Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Parks and Recreation Work in Arlington
Arlington's park system is bigger than most people expect from a suburb: more than 5,600 acres of park land, 123 miles of trails and 100 public parks, anchored by the 1,000-acre River Legacy Park along the Trinity River in far North Arlington. The city's Parks, Recreation and Culture department hires full-time crews and a large seasonal workforce for pools, day camps and youth sports, with hiring heaviest each spring ahead of the summer season.
The private side of the market sits in the Entertainment District at I-30 and SH 360, where Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington staff park services and lifeguard crews every season. Arlington ISD runs its own grounds operation across district campuses, and the City of Fort Worth posts park maintenance and athletics jobs within a short drive west on I-30.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Parks and Recreation Workers
These employers have posted parks, grounds, aquatics or park services roles on their own career sites:
- City of Arlington Parks, Recreation and Culture - full-time and seasonal hiring for lifeguards, day camp leaders, youth sports officials and park operations across 100 parks.
- Six Flags Over Texas - park services associates who keep midways, restrooms, parking lots and the park perimeter clean; hires from age 15.
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington - the water park hires seasonal lifeguards and park services staff each spring.
- Arlington ISD - Grounds Services maintains more than 1,000 acres of grass, trees, tracks and artificial turf fields across district campuses.
- City of Fort Worth Park and Recreation - posts part-time maintenance worker, athletics and sports field roles, plus arborist jobs, a short commute west on I-30.
Parks and Recreation Worker Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level / seasonal: about $13 to $17 an hour; theme park seasonal roles sit at the low end, and City of Arlington indoor lifeguards start at $17.09.
- Experienced: about $17 to $21 an hour for full-time grounds and park maintenance crews.
- Senior / lead: about $19 to $24 an hour for grounds leads, crew leaders and specialized turf or tree work.
These are estimates built from local employer postings and the federal average for building and grounds work in Dallas-Fort Worth, about $18 an hour in May 2025. Pay moves with employer type, certifications and season. Full-time city and school district jobs add health coverage and public retirement, while seasonal theme park roles are hourly without full benefits.
How to Become a Parks and Recreation Worker in Arlington
Most entry parks jobs need no degree, and many seasonal roles hire from age 15. A valid Texas driver's license helps for crews that drive city vehicles, and city lifeguards need American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Standard First Aid. There is no state license for general parks work. Crews that apply herbicides or pesticides on public land need a noncommercial political subdivision applicator license from the Texas Department of Agriculture. Tarrant County College offers a Horticulture associate degree and certificates at its Northwest campus in Fort Worth.
What the Job Involves
Parks and recreation workers mow and trim grounds, prep and line athletic fields, clean pavilions, restrooms and trails, set up recreation centers for programs and events, and supervise swimmers or campers. The work is mostly outdoors and physical, with long days in Texas summer heat and frequent weekend shifts when parks and sports fields are busiest.
Skills Employers Look For
- Reliability and stamina for outdoor physical work
- Safe use of mowers, trimmers and small equipment
- CPR, first aid and lifeguard certification for aquatics roles
- Friendly customer service with park visitors and families
- Availability for weekends, holidays and summer schedules
- Teamwork on a crew
Career Path and Advancement
Many Arlington parks workers start in a seasonal lifeguard, day camp or park services job, then move into a full-time grounds or recreation position with the city or Arlington ISD. From there the ladder runs to grounds lead, crew leader and park supervisor, or on the recreation side to program coordinator and center supervisor. A Texas Department of Agriculture applicator license, horticulture coursework or arborist training opens the specialized turf and tree jobs that pay the most.
Related Careers in Arlington
If outdoor and public-facing work appeals to you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work in parks and recreation in Arlington?
No state license is required for general parks work. Lifeguards need CPR and first aid certification, and anyone applying pesticides on city or school property needs a Texas Department of Agriculture applicator license.
How much do parks and recreation workers make in Arlington?
Seasonal theme park roles start around $13 an hour, City of Arlington indoor lifeguards start at $17.09, and full-time grounds crews generally earn about $17 to $21 an hour. Leads and specialized turf or tree workers can reach the low to mid $20s.
How old do you have to be to get a parks job in Arlington?
Many seasonal jobs hire at 15. City of Arlington lifeguard postings list a minimum age of 15, and Six Flags park services and lifeguard roles also start at 15. Full-time maintenance jobs that involve driving usually require 18 and a valid license.
When do Arlington parks hire seasonal workers?
Spring is the main window. The city recruits lifeguards, camp leaders and youth sports officials ahead of summer, and Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor held hiring events in February and March 2026 to fill more than 1,400 jobs.
Are parks jobs in Arlington year-round?
Both kinds exist. Pools, camps and theme parks lean seasonal, while City of Arlington park operations, indoor aquatics and Arlington ISD grounds crews work year-round with benefits.
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