Activity Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Activity Program Director in the United States is $70,811 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84,367
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,079 to $77,907
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,682
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $67,079 10% $63,682 90% $84,367 75% $77,907 $70,811 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Activity Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $77,907 $6,492 $1,498 $37
Average $70,811 $5,901 $1,362 $34
25th Percentile $67,079 $5,590 $1,290 $32
Check out Activity Program Director Job Openings in the United States
AP Fellowship Assistant Program Director

Vituity - VISALIA, CA

Substance Use Disorder Program Director

VitalCore Health Strategies - WILMINGTON, DE

Program Assistant Director

Communitas, Inc. - BEVERLY, MA

Residential Program Director

Pinnacle Services, Inc. - CHASKA, MN

Search More Activity Program Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Activity Program Director Salaries

An Activity Program 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Activity Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Activity Program 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): $67,447
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,723
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,183
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,643
  • Expert (over 8 years): $69,530
Levels Salary
Entry Level Activity Program Director$67,447
Intermediate Level Activity Program Director$67,723
Senior Level Activity Program Director$68,183
Specialist Level Activity Program Director$68,643
Expert Level Activity Program Director$69,530
$67,447 0 yr
$67,723 < 2 yrs
$68,183 2-4 yrs
$68,643 5-8 yrs
$69,530 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Activity Program 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 Activity Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $78,402.
  • California: $78,105.
  • Massachusetts: $77,064.

Top Paying Cities for Activity Program 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: $89,314
  • San Francisco: $88,436
  • Oakland: $86,475

What Skills Can Increase an Activity Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 16.58% 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.
  • Occupational Therapy (Mentioned in 3.19% Job Postings): Occupational Therapy is a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life.
  • Geriatrics (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 16.58%
Occupational Therapy 3.19%
Geriatrics 1.15%
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 Program Director's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$80,725
14%
Commitment
$80,017
13%
Presentation
$80,017
13%
Teamwork
$77,892
10%
Team Management
$77,892
10%
Initiative
$77,184
9%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts an Activity Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Activity Program Directors 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 Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $53,008 and $56,978).

Activity Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Activity Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 35.7%
Associates 13.6%
Bachelors 40.1%
Masters 8.8%
Doctorate 0.6%
view as graph

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

Understanding how an Activity Program 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Activity Program Director

Salaries for an Activity Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $74,837 in 2023 to around $75,131 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Activity Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Activity Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$74,837
2024
$75,562
2025
$75,131
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $74,837
2024 $75,562
2025 $75,131
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Activity Program Director

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Activity Program Director

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

Find Your Next Activity Program Director Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst