Youth Development Leader Salary in the United States
How much does a Youth Development Leader make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Youth Development Leader in the United States is $39,587 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, a Youth Development Leader's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,841
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,098 to $43,907
Key Factors That Influence Youth Development Leader Salaries
A Youth Development Leader'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 Youth Development Leader Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Youth Development Leader'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): $38,645
Early Career (1-2 years): $39,396
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,175
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,366
Expert (over 8 years): $41,493
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Youth Development Leader
$38,645
Intermediate Level Youth Development Leader
$39,396
Senior Level Youth Development Leader
$41,175
Specialist Level Youth Development Leader
$41,366
Expert Level Youth Development Leader
$41,493
$38,6450 yr
$39,396< 2 yrs
$41,1752-4 yrs
$41,3665-8 yrs
$41,493> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Youth Development Leader 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 Youth Development Leaders.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $43,830.
California: $43,664.
Massachusetts: $43,082.
District of Columbia$43,830
California$43,664
Massachusetts$43,082
Washington$42,924
New Jersey$42,908
Alaska$42,852
Connecticut$42,306
New York$42,084
Hawaii$41,376
Rhode Island$41,043
Maryland$40,818
Minnesota$40,509
Colorado$40,390
Illinois$40,351
Oregon$40,200
Delaware$40,089
New Hampshire$40,020
Virginia$39,864
Pennsylvania$39,408
Nevada$39,179
North Dakota$39,104
Michigan$38,985
Wisconsin$38,941
Vermont$38,854
Texas$38,613
Maine$38,597
Arizona$38,573
Ohio$38,545
Georgia$38,181
Indiana$37,999
Wyoming$37,963
Utah$37,908
Iowa$37,884
Kansas$37,694
Louisiana$37,639
North Carolina$37,619
Missouri$37,611
Florida$37,457
Montana$37,374
Nebraska$37,294
Kentucky$37,251
South Carolina$37,093
Tennessee$36,994
Idaho$36,954
New Mexico$36,665
Oklahoma$36,602
Alabama$36,368
South Dakota$35,976
Arkansas$35,762
West Virginia$35,648
Mississippi$35,303
Top Paying Cities for Youth Development Leaders
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: $49,930
San Francisco: $49,384
Oakland: $48,343
San Jose, CA$49,930
San Francisco, CA$49,384
Oakland, CA$48,343
New York, NY$45,580
Paramus, NJ$45,025
Queens Village, NY$45,023
Passaic, NJ$44,986
Bergenfield, NJ$44,982
Stamford, CT$44,895
Huntington, NY$44,879
Newark, NJ$44,586
Bridgeport, CT$44,503
Vallejo, CA$44,424
New Brunswick, NJ$44,408
Petaluma, CA$44,384
Middlesex, NJ$44,309
Somerset, NJ$44,281
Santa Cruz, CA$44,230
Boston, MA$43,989
Monterey, CA$43,850
Seattle, WA$43,759
Santa Rosa, CA$43,751
Los Angeles, CA$43,739
Juneau, AK$43,636
Washington, DC$43,593
Orange, CA$43,452
Santa Ana, CA$43,347
Long Beach, CA$43,308
Anaheim, CA$43,300
Anchorage, AK$43,280
Santa Maria, CA$43,161
Everett, WA$43,153
Danbury, CT$43,014
Bremerton, WA$42,959
Tacoma, WA$42,817
New Suffolk, NY$42,816
Sacramento, CA$42,805
Santa Barbara, CA$42,761
Trenton, NJ$42,718
San Diego, CA$42,718
Brockton, MA$42,674
Fairbanks, AK$42,577
Lompoc, CA$42,476
Lowell, MA$42,444
Ventura, CA$42,437
Nashua, NH$42,429
Stockton, CA$42,425
Modesto, CA$42,136
Poughkeepsie, NY$42,049
Olympia, WA$41,974
Kennewick, WA$41,974
New Haven, CT$41,958
Lawrence, MA$41,815
Hartford, CT$41,776
Riverside, CA$41,768
New Bedford, MA$41,728
Richland, WA$41,728
Bakersfield, CA$41,673
San Bernardino, CA$41,657
New Britain, CT$41,653
Atlantic City, NJ$41,653
New London, CT$41,637
Norwich, CT$41,625
Portsmouth, NH$41,617
Boulder, CO$41,533
Portland, OR$41,479
Worcester, MA$41,475
Minneapolis, MN$41,352
Philadelphia, PA$41,297
Honolulu, HI$41,166
Saint Paul, MN$41,147
Vineland, NJ$41,138
Providence, RI$41,023
Chicago, IL$40,909
Bellingham, WA$40,861
Springfield, MA$40,830
Baltimore, MD$40,818
Chico, CA$40,719
Pittsfield, MA$40,612
Manchester, NH$40,537
Spokane, WA$40,362
Denver, CO$40,358
Albany, NY$40,172
Troy, NY$40,157
Nassau, NY$40,114
Schenectady, NY$40,073
Wilmington, DE$40,042
Burlington, VT$39,986
Salem, OR$39,970
Portland, ME$39,848
Yakima, WA$39,808
Rochester, MN$39,685
Reno, NV$39,666
Fresno, CA$39,666
Milwaukee, WI$39,630
Detroit, MI$39,590
Ann Arbor, MI$39,584
Allentown, PA$39,579
Colorado Springs, CO$39,511
Syracuse, NY$39,491
Carson City, NV$39,491
Houston, TX$39,436
Eugene, OR$39,416
Gary, IN$39,369
Springfield, OR$39,337
Bismarck, ND$39,329
Galveston, TX$39,301
Medford, OR$39,242
Fort Collins, CO$39,226
Concord, NH$39,206
Austin, TX$39,195
Mesa, AZ$39,111
Reading, PA$39,108
Phoenix, AZ$39,104
Dallas, TX$39,092
Saint Cloud, MN$39,054
Madison, WI$39,001
Utica, NY$38,894
Rochester, NY$38,830
Des Moines, IA$38,826
Raleigh, NC$38,822
Atlanta, GA$38,763
Battle Creek, MI$38,751
Salt Lake City, UT$38,739
Lancaster, PA$38,680
Harrisburg, PA$38,625
Kansas City, MO$38,585
Champaign, IL$38,577
Kansas City, KS$38,577
Fort Worth, TX$38,573
Columbus, OH$38,566
Boca Raton, FL$38,557
Pittsburgh, PA$38,541
Richmond, VA$38,526
Indianapolis, IN$38,518
Cleveland, OH$38,514
Las Vegas, NV$38,466
Cincinnati, OH$38,466
Petersburg, VA$38,407
Huntsville, AL$38,347
Lansing, MI$38,321
Lebanon, PA$38,316
Pueblo, CO$38,312
Appleton, WI$38,300
Buffalo, NY$38,284
Dayton, OH$38,272
Racine, WI$38,264
Charlotte, NC$38,260
Saint Louis, MO$38,248
York, PA$38,225
Elkhart, IN$38,225
Gastonia, NC$38,217
Billings, MT$38,208
Beaumont, TX$38,197
Lorain, OH$38,189
Benton Harbor, MI$38,181
Toledo, OH$38,173
Binghamton, NY$38,153
Rock Hill, SC$38,150
Rockford, IL$38,130
Springfield, IL$38,114
Elyria, OH$38,110
Fargo, ND$38,110
Flagstaff, AZ$38,082
Fort Lauderdale, FL$38,058
Duluth, MN$38,035
Miami, FL$38,035
Cheyenne, WY$38,007
Grand Forks, ND$38,007
Bangor, ME$37,920
Cedar Rapids, IA$37,876
Durham, NC$37,860
Louisville, KY$37,857
Grand Rapids, MI$37,849
Hialeah, FL$37,845
Casper, WY$37,789
Scranton, PA$37,742
New Orleans, LA$37,730
Virginia Beach, VA$37,726
Akron, OH$37,706
Peoria, IL$37,655
Sarasota, FL$37,647
Nashville, TN$37,619
Omaha, NE$37,619
Green Bay, WI$37,619
Baton Rouge, LA$37,599
Charleston, SC$37,591
Jamestown, NY$37,572
Davenport, IA$37,572
Tucson, AZ$37,552
Saint Petersburg, FL$37,528
Tampa, FL$37,520
Evansville, IN$37,496
Port Arthur, TX$37,496
Bradenton, FL$37,480
Santa Fe, NM$37,409
Orlando, FL$37,338
Clearwater, FL$37,326
Canton, OH$37,243
La Crosse, WI$37,243
Albuquerque, NM$37,219
Newport News, VA$37,215
High Point, NC$37,203
Ogden, UT$37,188
Corpus Christi, TX$37,156
Norfolk, VA$37,132
Laramie, WY$37,132
Rock Island, IL$37,108
Saginaw, MI$37,100
Jacksonville, FL$37,097
Salisbury, NC$37,089
Boise, ID$37,081
Moline, IL$37,061
Fort Myers, FL$37,049
Memphis, TN$37,041
Tulsa, OK$37,021
Waterloo, IA$36,998
Spartanburg, SC$36,958
Lincoln, NE$36,938
Fort Wayne, IN$36,930
Provo, UT$36,926
Cedar Falls, IA$36,879
San Antonio, TX$36,863
Greensboro, NC$36,847
South Bend, IN$36,843
Savannah, GA$36,800
Muskegon, MI$36,784
Birmingham, AL$36,780
Winston Salem, NC$36,760
Lake Charles, LA$36,665
Anderson, IN$36,657
Lexington, KY$36,645
Augusta, GA$36,633
Greenville, SC$36,633
Lima, OH$36,602
Wichita, KS$36,598
Tuscaloosa, AL$36,598
Columbia, SC$36,562
Springfield, OH$36,554
Asheville, NC$36,491
Bloomington, IN$36,463
Knoxville, TN$36,321
Shreveport, LA$36,317
Wilmington, NC$36,265
Roanoke, VA$36,265
Topeka, KS$36,194
Frankfort, KY$36,190
Oklahoma City, OK$36,162
Chillicothe, OH$36,146
Longview, TX$36,142
Melbourne, FL$36,139
Sioux Falls, SD$36,075
Mobile, AL$36,071
Terre Haute, IN$36,055
Altoona, PA$36,032
Amarillo, TX$36,004
Killeen, TX$35,992
Fayetteville, AR$35,960
Chattanooga, TN$35,949
Sioux City, IA$35,913
Idaho Falls, ID$35,905
Lynchburg, VA$35,873
Gainesville, FL$35,822
Portsmouth, OH$35,802
Little Rock, AR$35,794
Lafayette, LA$35,778
Youngstown, OH$35,778
Daytona Beach, FL$35,755
Clarksville, TN$35,751
Pensacola, FL$35,747
Temple, TX$35,744
Hopkinsville, KY$35,628
Erie, PA$35,620
Florence, SC$35,604
Charleston, WV$35,541
Great Falls, MT$35,521
Macon, GA$35,466
Tallahassee, FL$35,462
Fayetteville, NC$35,454
Waco, TX$35,446
Helena, MT$35,418
Pine Bluff, AR$35,403
Vincennes, IN$35,355
Lubbock, TX$35,339
Alamogordo, NM$35,315
Twin Falls, ID$35,279
Rapid City, SD$35,268
Jackson, MS$35,196
Huntington, WV$35,194
Greenville, MS$35,192
Parkersburg, WV$35,152
Montgomery, AL$35,145
Wichita Falls, TX$35,105
Springfield, MO$35,105
Biloxi, MS$35,086
Monroe, LA$35,046
Johnstown, PA$35,018
Sumter, SC$35,002
Columbus, GA$34,998
Pascagoula, MS$34,923
Abilene, TX$34,923
Kingsport, TN$34,820
Albany, GA$34,820
Gulfport, MS$34,808
Alexandria, LA$34,678
Fort Smith, AR$34,579
El Paso, TX$34,472
Las Cruces, NM$34,294
Harlingen, TX$34,193
Pocatello, ID$34,187
Florence, AL$34,135
Brownsville, TX$34,128
Mcallen, TX$34,044
Dothan, AL$33,989
Columbus, MS$33,754
Altus, OK$33,569
Lawton, OK$33,494
Pierre, SD$33,352
What Skills Can Increase a Youth Development Leader's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 5.5% 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.
Social Work (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
Laundry (Mentioned in 2.66% Job Postings): Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles. Laundry processes are often done in a room reserved for that purpose; in an individual home this is referred to as a laundry room, Laundry in Australian English or utility room. An apartment building or student hall of residence may have a shared laundry facility such as a tvättstuga. A stand-alone business is referred to as a self-service laundry (launderette in British English or laundromat in American English). The material that is being washed, or has been laundered, is also generally referred to as laundry. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with this universal human need are of interest to several branches of scholarship. Laundry work has traditionally been highly gendered, with the responsibility in most cultures falling to women (known as laundresses or washerwomen). The Industrial Revolution gradually led to mechanised solutions to laundry work, notably the washing machine and later the tumble dryer. Laundry, like cooking and child care, is done both at home and by commercial establishments outside the home.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
5.5%
Social Work
3.29%
Laundry
2.66%
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 Youth Development Leader's salary.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Commitment
$47,108
19%
Presentation
$47,108
19%
Microsoft Office
$45,920
16%
Psychiatric
$45,129
14%
Programming
$44,337
12%
Collaboration
$44,337
12%
Get Latest Data
Youth Development Leader Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Youth Development Leader roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Youth Development Leader positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Youth Development Leader as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Youth Development Leader
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$47,504
$23.0
20%
How Education impacts a Youth Development Leader's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Youth Development Leaders enter the field with a Associate'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 a Youth Development Leader with a Associate's Degree is between
$30,440
and $33,434).
Youth Development Leader Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Youth Development Leader
No Diploma0.8%
High School14.4%
Associates19.2%
Bachelors51.2%
Masters14.4%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.8%
High School
14.4%
Associates
19.2%
Bachelors
51.2%
Masters
14.4%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Youth Development Leader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Youth Development Leader'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
$36,098
Average$39,587/year
$43,907
$3,008
Average$3,299/month
$3,659
$694
Average$761/week
$844
$17
Average$19/hour
$21
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$43,907
$3,659
$844
$21
Average
$39,587
$3,299
$761
$19
25th Percentile
$36,098
$3,008
$694
$17
Salaries of jobs related to Youth Development Leader
Salaries for a Youth Development Leader can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $45,325 in 2023
to around $44,815 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Youth Development Leader salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Youth Development Leader Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$45,325
2024
$45,235
2025
$44,815
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$45,325
2024
$45,235
2025
$44,815
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Youth Development Leader
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 Youth Development Leader
Here are companies hiring for Youth Development Leader and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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