Activity Director/Recreational Salary in the United States

How much does an Activity Director/Recreational make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Activity Director/Recreational in the United States is $73,606 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,722
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,204 to $86,753
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,823
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,204 10% $51,823 90% $98,722 75% $86,753 $73,606 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Activity Director/Recreational Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $86,753 $7,229 $1,668 $42
Average $73,606 $6,134 $1,416 $35
25th Percentile $62,204 $5,184 $1,196 $30
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Key Factors That Influence Activity Director/Recreational Salaries

An Activity Director/Recreational'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.

How Do Activity Director/Recreational 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 Activity Director/Recreationals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $81,497.
  • California: $81,187.
  • Massachusetts: $80,105.

Top Paying Cities for Activity Director/Recreationals

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: $92,839
  • San Francisco: $91,823
  • Oakland: $89,888

What Skills Can Increase an Activity Director/Recreational's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.33% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 1.39% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
  • Marketing Support (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Marketing assistants support the leadership team in the marketing department by developing strategies, coordinating project activities,
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.33%
Assisted Living 1.39%
Marketing Support 0.76%
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 an Activity Director/Recreational's salary.
  • Clinical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
  • Healthcare Services: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Marketing Support: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Skills
 $100,104
36%
Healthcare Services
 $85,383
16%
Marketing Support
 $83,175
13%
Partnering
 $82,439
12%
Honesty and Integrity
 $80,231
9%
Coaching
 $79,494
8%
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How Education impacts an Activity Director/Recreational's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Activity Director/Recreationals enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Activity Director/Recreational with a Bachelor's Degree is between $72,936 and $82,300).

Activity Director/Recreational Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Activity Director/Recreational
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 2.7%
Bachelors 53.3%
Masters 38.7%
Doctorate 1.3%
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Activity Director/Recreational Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Activity Director/Recreational'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$62,204
Average $73,606/year
$86,753
$5,184
Average $6,134/month
$7,229
$1,196
Average $1,416/week
$1,668
$30
Average $35/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $86,753 $7,229 $1,668 $42
Average $73,606 $6,134 $1,416 $35
25th Percentile $62,204 $5,184 $1,196 $30

Salaries of jobs related to Activity Director/Recreational

Salary Trends for Activity Director/Recreational

Salaries for an Activity Director/Recreational can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $62,075 in 2023 to around $62,671 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Activity Director/Recreational salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Activity Director/Recreational Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,075
2024
$62,843
2025
$62,671
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,075
2024 $62,843
2025 $62,671
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Activity Director/Recreational

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Activity Director/Recreational

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

Find Your Next Activity Director/Recreational Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Activity Director/Recreational job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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