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The average salary for a Camp Leader in the United States is approximately $31,134 per year, equating to about $15 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, level of experience, and the specific type of camp.
On average, Camp Leaders with several years of experience can earn significantly more, particularly in regions with a higher demand for recreational programs. For instance, positions in urban areas often pay better than those in rural settings.
According to recent data, the highest-paying states for Camp Leaders include California, New York, and Texas. Camp Leaders in metropolitan areas such as San Francisco and New York City report higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for quality camps.
Some of the top cities for Camp Leaders based on salary include:
Understanding the salary landscape can help prospective leaders make informed career decisions and seek out opportunities that align with their goals.
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The average camp leader salary in Alaska, Mississippi, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average camp leader salary states are Kentucky, Kansas, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $39,366 | $18.93 |
| 2 | Alaska | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 3 | New York | $40,472 | $19.46 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| 5 | Washington | $38,565 | $18.54 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $34,748 | $16.71 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $36,134 | $17.37 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $35,796 | $17.21 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $33,318 | $16.02 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,323 | $16.98 |
| 11 | Oregon | $33,713 | $16.21 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $37,541 | $18.05 |
| 13 | California | $39,025 | $18.76 |
| 14 | Vermont | $36,627 | $17.61 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $31,231 | $15.01 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $33,581 | $16.14 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $35,021 | $16.84 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $34,045 | $16.37 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $31,676 | $15.23 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $29,201 | $14.04 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $29,732 | $14.29 |
| 22 | Delaware | $32,813 | $15.78 |
| 23 | Maryland | $33,216 | $15.97 |
| 24 | Alabama | $29,619 | $14.24 |
| 25 | Montana | $29,405 | $14.14 |
| 26 | Colorado | $30,034 | $14.44 |
| 27 | Idaho | $31,633 | $15.21 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $28,674 | $13.79 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $33,639 | $16.17 |
| 30 | Illinois | $28,828 | $13.86 |
| 31 | Arizona | $29,342 | $14.11 |
| 32 | Missouri | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| 33 | Virginia | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $27,816 | $13.37 |
| 35 | Michigan | $27,094 | $13.03 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,195 | $13.07 |
| 37 | Ohio | $27,724 | $13.33 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $25,753 | $12.38 |
| 39 | Georgia | $26,678 | $12.83 |
| 40 | Kansas | $23,943 | $11.51 |
| 41 | Florida | $25,335 | $12.18 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $26,721 | $12.85 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $24,110 | $11.59 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $25,207 | $12.12 |
| 45 | Texas | $24,494 | $11.78 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $20,601 | $9.90 |
| 47 | Iowa | $24,574 | $11.81 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $23,466 | $11.28 |
| 49 | Utah | $24,117 | $11.59 |
| 50 | Indiana | $21,935 | $10.55 |
| 51 | Nevada | $19,103 | $9.18 |
The highest-paying cities for camp leaders are New York, NY, Portland, ME, and Chico, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $40,325 | $19.39 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $39,447 | $18.96 |
| 3 | Chico, CA | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $38,848 | $18.68 |
| 5 | Casper, WY | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,029 | $16.84 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $33,589 | $16.15 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $33,396 | $16.06 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $30,282 | $14.56 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,095 | $14.47 |
| 11 | Scottsdale, AZ | $29,278 | $14.08 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,263 | $14.07 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $29,007 | $13.95 |
| 14 | Billings, MT | $28,748 | $13.82 |
| 15 | OFallon, MO | $27,842 | $13.39 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $27,175 | $13.06 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $26,775 | $12.87 |
| 18 | Largo, FL | $25,410 | $12.22 |
| 19 | Lewisville, TX | $24,011 | $11.54 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $18,975 | $9.12 |
A camp leader's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $31,134 | $2,595 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of camp leaders are senior counselor, co-leader, and program lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity Coordinator | $35,309 | $2,942 | $16.98 | 20,364 |
| Activities Director | $44,982 | $3,748 | $21.63 | 6,845 |
| Summer Camp Counselor | $25,618 | $2,135 | $12.32 | 31,954 |
| Day Camp Counselor | $29,384 | $2,449 | $14.13 | 32,895 |
| Activities Leader | $30,329 | $2,527 | $14.58 | 35,544 |
| Orientation Leader | $33,848 | $2,821 | $16.27 | 32,073 |
Camp leader salaries at University Of Minnesota Physicians and The Pennington School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average camp leader salary at companies like Learning Care Group and Grandbridge Real Estate Capital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $34,798 | $16.73 |
| 2 | The Pennington School | $33,991 | $16.34 |
| 3 | Learning Care Group | $33,514 | $16.11 |
| 4 | Grandbridge Real Estate Capital | $32,421 | $15.59 |
| 5 | CORA Services | $32,325 | $15.54 |
| 6 | Associated Recreation Council | $32,324 | $15.54 |
| 7 | Mad Science Group | $32,069 | $15.42 |
| 8 | Pasco | $31,178 | $14.99 |
| 9 | Galileo | $30,715 | $14.77 |
| 10 | Cabela's | $30,429 | $14.63 |
| 11 | City of Aurora | $30,376 | $14.60 |
| 12 | University of Maine System | $30,198 | $14.52 |
| 13 | Maryland | $30,084 | $14.46 |
| 14 | Englewood Ohio | $29,243 | $14.06 |
| 15 | Americorps | $29,182 | $14.03 |
| 16 | Scheels | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| 17 | Christian Camps and Conferences | $29,114 | $14.00 |
| 18 | Nobel Learning | $28,849 | $13.87 |
| 19 | City of Northglenn | $28,745 | $13.82 |
| 20 | Goddard School | $28,394 | $13.65 |
The average camp leader salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $30,879 | $14.85 |
| 2 | Government | $28,377 | $13.64 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $27,161 | $13.06 |
| 4 | Health Care | $26,831 | $12.90 |
The average camp leader salary has risen by $6,908 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average camp leader earned $24,226 annually, but today, they earn $31,134 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for camp leaders over the last decade.
Compare camp leader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare camp leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.97 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $28,800 | $13.87 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $27,400 | $13.19 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $26,900 | $12.92 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $26,100 | $12.56 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Suburban Park & Recreation | Day Camp Lead | Centennial, CO | 06/27/2025 | $35,583 |
| YMCA Twin Cities | Wilderness Camp Lead-Daily (Camp Menogyn) | Grand Marais, MN | 06/23/2025 | $25,305 |
| YMCA of The Suncoast | Summer Camp Leader/Teen Leader-Citrus Memorial Health Foundation | Lecanto, FL | 06/18/2025 | $28,905 |
| Compass Group, North America | Stand Lead-Camp Randall Stadium | Madison, WI | 06/12/2025 | $36,523 |
| Alphabest Education | Summer Camp-Class Lead | Arvada, CO | 06/12/2025 | $31,305 |
| UMS Group | Camp Leaders-Stem Camp (Temporary) | Portland, ME | 06/10/2025 | $56,349 |
| USTA National Tennis Center | 2025 NTC Summer Camp Tennis and Sports Leader (Seasonal) | New York, NY | 06/03/2025 | $37,566 |
| Learning Care Group | Summer Camp Lead Teacher, Everbrook Academy of Eden Prairie | Eden Prairie, MN | 05/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Healthy Kids Programs | Summer Camp Leader | Monticello, NY | 05/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| University of North Texas System | ELM Fork Camp Leader | Denton, TX | 05/25/2025 | $31,305 |
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