As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Outdoor Instructor in the United States is $60,682 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, an Outdoor Instructor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Outdoor Instructor Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $67,175 | $5,598 | $1,292 | $32 |
| Average | $60,682 | $5,057 | $1,167 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,816 | $4,568 | $1,054 | $26 |
An Outdoor Instructor'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Outdoor Instructor'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Outdoor Instructor | $60,111 |
| Intermediate Level Outdoor Instructor | $61,089 |
| Senior Level Outdoor Instructor | $62,980 |
| Specialist Level Outdoor Instructor | $65,454 |
| Expert Level Outdoor Instructor | $65,669 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Storytelling | 6.56% |
| News Reporting | 3.78% |
| Public Relations | 1.98% |
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 an Outdoor Instructor's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Media Relations | $72,818 | |
| Insight | $66,750 | |
| Public Relations | $66,143 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Outdoor Instructors enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Outdoor Instructor with a No Diploma is between $53,494 and $56,188).
| Typical Education for Outdoor Instructor | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 1.7% |
| Associates | 3.3% |
| Bachelors | 64.8% |
| Masters | 28.2% |
| Doctorate | 1.7% |
Understanding how an Outdoor Instructor'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $67,175 | $5,598 | $1,292 | $32 |
| Average | $60,682 | $5,057 | $1,167 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,816 | $4,568 | $1,054 | $26 |
Salaries for an Outdoor Instructor can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $67,863 in 2023 to around $67,369 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Outdoor Instructor salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $67,863 |
| 2024 | $67,660 |
| 2025 | $67,369 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Outdoor Instructor roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
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