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Recreation Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Recreation Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Recreation Director in the United States is $123,820 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $170,806
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $105,742 to $148,414
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,283
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Recreation Director Salaries

A Recreation 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 Recreation Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Recreation 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): $111,076
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $112,677
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,344
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,011
  • Expert (over 8 years): $122,735
Levels Salary
Entry Level Recreation Director$111,076
Intermediate Level Recreation Director$112,677
Senior Level Recreation Director$115,344
Specialist Level Recreation Director$118,011
Expert Level Recreation Director$122,735
View as Graph

How Do Recreation 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 Recreation Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $137,094.
  • California: $136,573.
  • Massachusetts: $134,753.

Top Paying Cities for Recreation 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: $156,174
  • San Francisco: $154,464
  • Oakland: $151,209

What Skills Can Increase a Recreation Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.62% 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 0.97% 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.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 0.73% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.62%
Assisted Living 0.97%
Quality Assurance 0.73%
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 Recreation Director's salary.

  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Attention to Detail $131,249
6%
Interviewing $130,011
5%
Coaching $130,011
5%
Get Latest Data

Recreation Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Recreation Director 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, Recreation Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Recreation Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Recreation Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$148,584$71.020%

How Education impacts a Recreation Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Recreation 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 a Recreation Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $101,844 and $119,738).

Recreation Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Recreation Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 6.2%
Associates 1.5%
Bachelors 69.2%
Masters 21.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Recreation Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Recreation 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
$105,742
Average $123,820/year
$148,414
$8,812
Average $10,318/month
$12,368
$2,034
Average $2,381/week
$2,854
$51
Average $60/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,414 $12,368 $2,854 $71
Average $123,820 $10,318 $2,381 $60
25th Percentile $105,742 $8,812 $2,034 $51

Most common benefits for Recreation Director

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

Common company salaries for Recreation Director

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

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FAQ about Recreation Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Recreation Director?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Recreation Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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

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