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Day camp counselor salary
Average day camp counselor salary
$14.13
Understanding Day Camp Counselor Salaries
Becoming a Day Camp Counselor can be a fulfilling career choice, especially for those who enjoy working with children in outdoor settings. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is around $29,384 annually, or about $14 per hour. Salaries can vary widely based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific type of camp.
For instance, counselors in urban areas may earn higher wages compared to those in rural settings. Additionally, camps that focus on specialized activities, such as sports or arts, might offer competitive salaries to attract experienced staff. Research shows that counselors with several years of experience can earn significantly more than entry-level positions, highlighting the importance of career progression in this field.
To maximize earnings, consider working in states or cities known for higher pay rates. For example, states like California and New York frequently offer better compensation packages due to higher living costs and demand for quality camp programs. Explore local job listings to find the best opportunities that align with your skills and interests.
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Where can a Day Camp Counselor earn more?
Average day camp counselor salary by state
The average day camp counselor salary in Hawaii, Washington, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average day camp counselor salary states are South Carolina, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for day camp counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $41,533 | $19.97 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $38,783 | $18.65 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $43,244 | $20.79 |
| 4 | Alaska | $39,828 | $19.15 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,414 | $17.03 |
| 6 | Oregon | $38,251 | $18.39 |
| 7 | New York | $34,648 | $16.66 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $35,329 | $16.99 |
| 9 | California | $37,868 | $18.21 |
| 10 | Montana | $33,255 | $15.99 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $39,593 | $19.04 |
| 12 | Maine | $33,760 | $16.23 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $34,708 | $16.69 |
| 14 | Idaho | $34,833 | $16.75 |
| 15 | Delaware | $31,681 | $15.23 |
| 16 | Arizona | $31,653 | $15.22 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $36,434 | $17.52 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $32,370 | $15.56 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $29,847 | $14.35 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $33,299 | $16.01 |
| 21 | Florida | $29,895 | $14.37 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $32,454 | $15.60 |
| 23 | Colorado | $32,185 | $15.47 |
| 24 | Vermont | $33,349 | $16.03 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $32,110 | $15.44 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $33,031 | $15.88 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $32,478 | $15.61 |
| 28 | Maryland | $29,508 | $14.19 |
| 29 | Michigan | $27,641 | $13.29 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $26,481 | $12.73 |
| 31 | Illinois | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| 32 | Virginia | $28,641 | $13.77 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $26,271 | $12.63 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $27,453 | $13.20 |
| 35 | Iowa | $24,711 | $11.88 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $26,025 | $12.51 |
| 37 | Georgia | $25,123 | $12.08 |
| 38 | Nevada | $24,972 | $12.01 |
| 39 | Utah | $25,940 | $12.47 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $24,299 | $11.68 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $23,271 | $11.19 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $24,675 | $11.86 |
| 43 | Missouri | $23,993 | $11.54 |
| 44 | Ohio | $23,393 | $11.25 |
| 45 | Alabama | $23,975 | $11.53 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $20,149 | $9.69 |
| 47 | Kansas | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $23,227 | $11.17 |
| 49 | Indiana | $21,531 | $10.35 |
| 50 | Texas | $21,873 | $10.52 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $21,915 | $10.54 |
Highest paying cities for day camp counselors
The highest-paying cities for day camp counselors are Seattle, WA, Oakland, CA, and Medford, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $41,735 | $20.06 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $39,223 | $18.86 |
| 3 | Medford, OR | $38,849 | $18.68 |
| 4 | Natick, MA | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| 5 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,734 | $16.70 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $34,564 | $16.62 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $34,020 | $16.36 |
| 8 | Belleville, NJ | $32,630 | $15.69 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $32,464 | $15.61 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $32,165 | $15.46 |
| 11 | Dover, NH | $31,955 | $15.36 |
| 12 | Wilmington, DE | $31,907 | $15.34 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,649 | $15.22 |
| 14 | Charlottesville, VA | $28,609 | $13.75 |
| 15 | Waukegan, IL | $28,308 | $13.61 |
| 16 | Grand Rapids, MI | $27,597 | $13.27 |
| 17 | Levittown, PA | $26,703 | $12.84 |
| 18 | New Berlin, WI | $25,805 | $12.41 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $24,376 | $11.72 |
| 20 | OFallon, MO | $23,978 | $11.53 |
Day camp counselor salary details
A day camp counselor's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a day camp counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $29,384 | $2,449 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
Highest paying day camp counselor jobs
The highest paying types of day camp counselors are senior counselor, treatment specialist, and intensive in-home counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Worker | $32,242 | $2,687 | $15.50 | 87,360 |
| Residential Advisor | $33,593 | $2,799 | $16.15 | 47,150 |
| Child Care Worker | $31,284 | $2,607 | $15.04 | 136,963 |
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Intensive In-Home Counselor | $51,428 | $4,286 | $24.73 | 122,300 |
| Residence Counselor | $34,931 | $2,911 | $16.79 | 78,872 |
Top companies hiring day camp counselors now:
Which companies pay day camp counselors the most?
Day camp counselor salaries at City of Portland and City of McKinney are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average day camp counselor salary at companies like City of Charleston and Frederick County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Portland | $39,368 | $18.93 |
| 2 | City of McKinney | $39,069 | $18.78 |
| 3 | City of Charleston | $37,946 | $18.24 |
| 4 | Frederick County | $37,671 | $18.11 |
| 5 | City of Concord | $36,411 | $17.51 |
| 6 | Wilder Foundation | $35,665 | $17.15 |
| 7 | Kettering Health Network | $35,521 | $17.08 |
| 8 | City of Iowa City | $35,365 | $17.00 |
| 9 | Youth Villages | $35,314 | $16.98 |
| 10 | Mount Sinai Health System | $35,192 | $16.92 |
| 11 | City of Medford | $34,933 | $16.79 |
| 12 | Village of Lincolnwood | $34,391 | $16.53 |
| 13 | Pine Street Inn | $34,071 | $16.38 |
| 14 | Eating Recovery Center | $34,054 | $16.37 |
| 15 | Boynton Beach City Manager | $33,657 | $16.18 |
| 16 | City of Ann Arbor | $33,578 | $16.14 |
| 17 | Associated Recreation Council | $33,241 | $15.98 |
| 18 | Compass Housing Alliance | $33,150 | $15.94 |
| 19 | CRISTA Ministries | $32,913 | $15.82 |
| 20 | Jackson Services Inc | $32,882 | $15.81 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Day Camp Counselor salary by industry
The average day camp counselor salary varies across industries:
- The average day camp counselor salary in the education industry is $34,530, the highest of any industry.
- The average day camp counselor salary in the finance industry is $30,700.
- Day camp counselors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $25,533, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for day camp counselors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $30,700 | $14.76 |
| 3 | Government | $30,121 | $14.48 |
| 4 | Professional | $28,519 | $13.71 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $27,593 | $13.27 |
| 6 | Health Care | $27,302 | $13.13 |
| 7 | Non Profits | $25,533 | $12.28 |
High paying day camp counselor jobs
Day camp counselor salary trends
The average day camp counselor salary has risen by $6,519 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average day camp counselor earned $22,865 annually, but today, they earn $29,384 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for day camp counselors over the last decade.
Compare day camp counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average day camp counselor salary over time
Compare day camp counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Day camp counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,400 | $14.13 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $27,200 | $13.09 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $25,900 | $12.45 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $25,400 | $12.19 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $24,700 | $11.86 | +2.3% |
Recently added day camp counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Center of Denver | Inclusion Day Camp Counselor | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Best Friends Pet Care | Doggy Day Camp Counselor | Saint Louis, MO | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Common Ground Center for Community Renewal | 2025 Day Camp Counselor | Oberlin, OH | 06/25/2025 | $22,331 |
| YMCA of Northern Utah | Summer Day Camp Group Counselor-Davis Camp | Ogden, UT | 06/24/2025 | $28,759 |
| YMCA of Greater Seattle | Summer Day Camp Counselor | Kent, WA | 06/22/2025 | $44,161 |
| Together for Youth | NSD Counselor-Days | Bath, NY | 06/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Best Friends Pet Care | Doggy Day Camp Counselor | Cincinnati, OH | 06/20/2025 | $29,218 |
| Franklin Park Conservatory | Day Camp Counselor | Columbus, OH | 06/19/2025 | $33,392 |
| The Dream Program | Day Camp Counselor (Dream Referred Only) | Philadelphia, PA | 06/19/2025 | $19,566 |
| City of Oak Park | Seasonal-Day Camp Counselor/Mobile Recreation Leader | Oak Park, MI | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
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