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Certified Activity Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Activity Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Activity Director in the United States is $102,669 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, a Certified Activity Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,634
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,036 to $113,643
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $78,533
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Certified Activity Director Salaries

A Certified Activity Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Activity Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Activity Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $98,107
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $99,160
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,563
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $102,669
  • Expert (over 8 years): $105,301
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Activity Director$98,107
Intermediate Level Certified Activity Director$99,160
Senior Level Certified Activity Director$100,563
Specialist Level Certified Activity Director$102,669
Expert Level Certified Activity Director$105,301
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How Do Certified Activity Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Certified Activity Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $113,675.
  • California: $113,244.
  • Massachusetts: $111,735.

Top Paying Cities for Certified Activity Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $129,496
  • San Francisco: $128,079
  • Oakland: $125,379

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Activity Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 12.21% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 12.21%
Programming 1.97%
CPR 1.29%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Activity Director's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Financial Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $118,069
15%
Program Management $117,043
14%
Financial Management $116,016
13%
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Certified Activity Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Activity Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Certified Activity Director positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Activity Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Activity Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$112,936$54.010%

Certified Activity Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Activity Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$90,036
Average $102,669/year
$113,643
$7,503
Average $8,556/month
$9,470
$1,731
Average $1,974/week
$2,185
$43
Average $49/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $113,643 $9,470 $2,185 $55
Average $102,669 $8,556 $1,974 $49
25th Percentile $90,036 $7,503 $1,731 $43

Most common benefits for Certified Activity Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Activity Director

Here are companies hiring for Certified Activity Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Certified Activity Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Activity Director?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Activity Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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