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Job outlook for recreation center directors in the United States
Are recreation center director jobs in demand?
Recreation center director job and salary trends over time
Recreation center director jobs over time
Recreation center director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 211 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 233 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 229 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 229 | 0.00% |
Average recreation center director salary over time
Recreation center director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,083 | $16.87 | +7.9% |
| 2024 | $32,505 | $15.63 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | $30,913 | $14.86 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $30,272 | $14.55 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $29,445 | $14.16 | +2.4% |
Recreation center director jobs by state
Most common states for recreation center directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 432 | 50% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 278 | 37% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 278 | 26% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 455 | 24% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 873 | 22% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 124 | 21% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 557 | 19% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 553 | 19% |
| 9 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 896 | 18% |
| 10 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 534 | 18% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 521 | 17% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 770 | 14% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 605 | 14% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 736 | 12% |
| 15 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 581 | 12% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 251 | 12% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 194 | 11% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 78 | 11% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,290 | 10% |
| 20 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 66 | 10% |
Most common cities for recreation center directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Towson | 1 | 2% | $34,020 |
Recreation Center Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of recreation center director experts
Southern Oregon University
University of New Hampshire
California State University - Sacramento
Virginia Wesleyan University
Trine University
Central Michigan University
Clemson University
Eastern Washington University
Kent State University
University of Minnesota
Springfield College
Kent State University
Frostburg State University
Ohio University
Dr. Chad Thatcher
Associate Professor of Outdoor Adventure LeadershipSouthern Oregon University
Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Studies
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Dr. Chad Thatcher: We develop EI competencies in the context of outdoor adventure expeditions both domestically and internationally. Of course we also work on the technical aspects of the degree as well, however, we find that teaching technical skills is way easier if someone possesses good intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.
What Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Chad Thatcher: Our students are entering a workforce that not only requires technical skills but nontechnical skills as well. The biggest problem I see with many graduates is that they don’t know how to articulate the skills they do possess, particularly the nontechnical skills. They simply don’t have the vocabulary to explain their skills and often they don’t make the connections between the competencies and their experiences.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Chad Thatcher: I just wrote an article on the importance of 'soft skills' in the outdoor industry and how outdoor professionals have been working on the soft skills for years. I don’t really like the terms 'soft skills' and 'hard skills' because they can have a hierarchical feel to them, as if soft skills are not as important.
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Matthew Frye M.S., CTRS/L: A strong professional network is key. Not only will it help you land your dream job, recreation professionals lean on each on each other for things like policies and procedures, new program development, and available grants. During the pandemic, those with stronger professional networks had a distinctly easier time responding to the needs of their communities during a very uncertain time. Maintaining that professional network involves joining and participating in your state and national membership organizations and going to conferences and events.
What Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Matthew Frye M.S., CTRS/L: The role of recreation is shifting toward public health and community wellness across the lifespan. Recreation professionals need to become better acquainted with the wants and needs of older adults, community members with disabilities, and other traditionally underrepresented groups.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Matthew Frye M.S., CTRS/L: A degree in recreation management is certainly the fastest way to promotion and advancement in our field. But, even as a new professional, having a degree makes you valuable due to the breadth and depth of the skill set with which you leave school. Otherwise, be sure that you can clearly articulate the role you play in your communities pursuant to the public good (overall health, increased property values, youth development and retention, etc),
Dr. KC Bloom Ph.D.
ProfessorWhat Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. KC Bloom Ph.D.: Entering the field now is ideal due to the increased appreciation for nature and group activities post-Covid. Visits to parks have surged, governments are reinvesting in park facilities and higher paying jobs, and the job outlook is positive.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. KC Bloom Ph.D.: Recreation managers work in a variety of settings and their tasks vary day to day. They may work on nature conservation projects, run programs for different groups, and focus on community and environmental health. Those entering the field often start in assistant or coordinator roles, spending time both planning and engaging with the public.
Dr. Jamie Hoffman CTRS
Chair, ProfessorCalifornia State University - Sacramento
Leisure And Recreational Activities
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Dr. Jamie Hoffman CTRS: Recreation Management is an excellent profession to enter today as the focus on health and wellness as well as experiences come to the forefront of our societies desire to increase their quality of life. People are starting to be proactive and selective with the way they use their discretionary time and money which has allowed individuals who are Recreation Managers to tailor experiences to inclusively meet the needs of their given communities. If you plan to work in municipal parks and recreation, agencies are increasing programming and building facilities to create experiences for their residents. Many of the baby boomer generation are retiring providing an opportunity for upward mobility within a short timeframe for incoming Recreation Managers. The opportunities for jobs within government agencies is also an appealing benefit to working as a Recreation Manager. With the increased cost of living across the globe as well as healthcare costs rising, have an employer that provides a pension upon retirement and health benefits is appealing and to some a necessary thing for personal financial stability and health care management as one ages. While young professionals may not be focused on their future retirement which may be 20-30 years away, it is essential that one starts looking at their future and planning accordingly.
What Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jamie Hoffman CTRS: Recreation Managers typically walk the walk and talk the talk. With that said, they are advocates for health, wellness and experiences. This includes protecting and preserving natural environments, providing accessible and inclusive experiences and serving individuals of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. Depending on the agency one works for, this may prevent or promote the ability of the Recreation Manager to navigate bureaucracy and or other challenges related to funding, deficits in assets, equipment or spaces. Whether the Recreation Manager is working in a government agency, non-profit organization or for profit business, each environment poses its own challenges. Having consistent professional training and development opportunities as well as cost effective avenues for education, some barriers exist to continue to grow and develop in ones career. When discussion a Recreation Managers likes of their job the list is lengthy. Having the opportunity to work in many diverse environments: hostels, arenas, parks & recreation organizations, non-profits, athletic gyms and clubs, sports facilities …etc., this creates endless spaces and places for one to work. In addition to environments, the populations one may have the opportunity to work with are also very diverse. Recreation Managers work with individuals from the crib to the crypt including tot program, youth sports, teen centers, co-ed adult sports, senior centers etc. As far as abilities, one can work with individuals with neurodiversity, physical disabilities, addiction..etc. In addition, the Recreation Manager has the potential to work with and impact individuals from diverse cultures. This broad scope of practice is an attractive aspect of working as a Recreation Manager. Having the opportunity to increase the quality of life of individuals is a tremendous component of job satisfaction. Recreation Managers strive to maintain life balance and develop healthy lifestyle choices. Having the opportunity to have your work be fun and enjoyable is a choice but also an honor.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jamie Hoffman CTRS: Day-to-day management in the field of recreation varies based on the facility, season, and program. If we are talking about someone working in an arena, one day may be the set-up for a Taylor Swift concert and that night a strike of the production starting at midnight including a clean sweep and turnover of the facility to have an ice arena for Disney on Ice for a three day show. Clearly the tasks associated with managing a facility that has such a high volume of attendees as well as drastic variety of events and shows is demanding on both the facility and maintenance staff as well as the manager. In contrast another example of a Recreation Manager’s day-to-day workload may include a director of a state park. This individual is managing nature spaces, ensure safety of visitors, providing programming including interpretive walks and talks at various sites throughout the park as well as maintaining oversight of capital improvement projects such as the redevelopment of a space or construction of a building. While many of the job responsibilities of a Recreation Manager include oversight of staff, facilities and programs or events, the day-to-day operations and tasks associated with doing the job are so drastically different based on the spaces and experiences provided. This is one of the reasons becoming a Recreation Manager is such a fulfilling career because there is such a drastic variety of job responsibilities as well as opportunities within the field leaving life to never have a dull moment.
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Dr. Doug Kennedy CPRP: On a daily basis recreation managers must be skilled at a variety of responsibilities. Primarily these include personnel management, program planning, marketing and facility management. Recreation managers must ensure that leisure-time opportunities are available for everyone in a wide variety of locations. These include community recreation facilities, outdoor recreation areas, sporting venues, aquatic facilities and more. New professionals are key to recreation management. They tend to be a bit more focused than experienced managers who juggle a lot of balls in the workplace. Still, new professionals typically will be focused on providing programs and guaranteeing that facilities are safe and ready.
What Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Doug Kennedy CPRP: Even before Covid I could see a switch in the workplace to more of a focus on work-life balance. Covid amplified that and we re-discovered the outdoors and recreation participation, and have seen a huge growth in the variety of sports for both participants and spectators. In short, people are seeing the value of recreation in their leisure time, and the importance of both, like never before.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Doug Kennedy CPRP: The most successful new recreation managers are those who are motivated by seeing the growth in others and receiving the appreciation connected to that. Very few professions on a daily basis allow people to really see the value of their work in the eyes of those they serve. The flip side of that though is that often your workday begins when the workday for others ends. People have their leisure time often on nights and weekends so the recreation manager must be on-the-job when others aren't! Lastly, when it comes to salaries my experience with three decades of new graduates is that entry-level salaries are often lower than other professions BUT as experience is gained they catch up quickly.
Brandon Podgorski
Associate Professor of Sport Management - Trine UniversityTrine University
Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Facilities Management
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Brandon Podgorski: Technology is always evolving so you want to be aware of the latest trends in the industry. Sustainability is also a major issue, because in addition to being a good environmental steward, good sustainable management helps the bottom line.
What Recreation Center Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brandon Podgorski: Be a sponge and try to learn as much about the industry and your organization as possible. Not only will this make you valuable to your current employer, but it will prepare you for future roles in parks and recreation management, because the field is so broad. Don't let any job be beneath you and be the type of person people like to be around. At its heart, parks and recreation management is a people-facing industry, so you want to provide your uses with the best experience possible.
What will help Recreation Center Directors increase their earning potential?
Brandon Podgorski: I like to reverse engineer this question. Find the jobs that pay the most and start to acquire the education and experience needed to land these positions as early as possible in your career. Have a value mindset and think about the things you can do to add value to your employer. You'll see your career take off on a faster trajectory than your peers.
Robert Frost
ChairpersonCentral Michigan University
Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration
What skills stand out on Recreation Center Director resumes?
Robert Frost: Corresponding to the new delivery formats are the accompanying skills; virtual programming, video production, social media abilities, and overall creativity and flexibility.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Recreation Center Directors to find work opportunities?
Robert Frost: We tend to primarily follow state or regional opportunities, (Michigan and Midwest). These opportunities seem to be consistently available.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Recreation Center Director job market given the pandemic?
Robert Frost: The pandemic has pushed program delivery into new forms. We are seeing jobs being reinvented to accommodate greater on-line/virtual delivery formats and flexibility in delivery times and scheduling. We also are seeing a growth in less clinical and more community-day program formats.
Marieke Van Puymbroeck Ph.D.
Professor, Graduate CoordinatorClemson University
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
What skills stand out on Recreation Center Director resumes?
Marieke Van Puymbroeck Ph.D.: A variety of skills and certifications always set individuals apart from the crowd. In this day and age, being able to provide virtual programming, offer innovative ideas about programming, and engage people virtually are particularly important.
Matt Chase Ph.D.
Professor, Recreation and Tourism ManagementEastern Washington University
Department of Wellness and Movement Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Recreation Center Director?
Matt Chase Ph.D.: As I said above, the recreation industry values experience, along with formal education. I recommend that people acquire a variety of experiences in the industry. Be open minded too. We all start the higher education journey with an end goal in sight, however, since the recreation industry is so broad and diverse, people end up migrating to where the opportunities exist. That's what I mean about an open-minded approach. A new graduate may end up in an aspect of the industry she never anticipated at the start of her career. Once graduates have accumulated some on-the-job experience, they will have access to other opportunities and mobility. The degree in RM sets graduates up for entry-level professional positions in the industry. As such, I highly recommend that soon to be graduates take full advantage of their professional internship experience. By this I mean, soon to be graduates should have a good idea of what aspects of the industry are appealing and which aspects of the industry are not appealing. They should choose an internship that sets them up for a positive career trajectory. My experience has been that students who choose their internships wisely, more often than not, walk into professional-level positions once they are done with school.
Last, soon to be graduates should try to find a mentor while in school and once they are on the job. An effective mentor can make a huge difference for the new professional. And remember, this industry is about people and passion. The industry is looking for employees who have a great attitude, who enjoy creating meaningful recreation experiences, and who fully understand the importance of customer service as it relates to an effective and sustainable business model.
What experience really stands out on Recreation Center Director resumes?
Dr. Mary Ann Devine Ph.D.: Experiences that provide opportunities to work with diverse groups within a community, particularly marginalized groups, are unique skill sets that aids in students' stand out from peers who do not have these experiences. Also, experiences that give students opportunities to develop and improve leadership, interpersonal, and writing skills, specific to the field of recreation, park, and tourism.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Recreation Center Directors in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Clinton J. Warren: Wearable technology has been gaining prominence in the general health and fitness industry for years now. As professional and collegiate sports have found more sophisticated ways to measure athlete performance, through adopting wearable technology, the cost, and thus accessibility, for the general population has grown. I would expect this trend to continue. It has been suggested that the pandemic may be a catalyst for growth in virtual or augmented reality in the health, fitness, and recreation industry, but a real move toward this is likely further than five years down the line.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Recreation Center Directors in the next 3-5 years?
Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP: The recreation management profession prides itself in providing quality recreation services, safe spaces, and creating opportunities for memorable human interactions. It is likely that technologies that help to mitigate challenges to this will be more important and prevalent. For instance, we have seen an increase in disease and illness over the past few years, not just related to Covid-19 but also connected with service men and women returning from combat with seen and unseen disabilities. Technologies that will help individuals get back to the recreational activities they loved or try new recreational activities will continue to be prevalent in the future.
It is likely that we will also continue to see efforts to connect online technologies with recreation programming and special events. For instance, we have seen demand for export programming increase over the years. Covid-19 seems to have perpetuated this need as there is an increased need for individuals to stay in confined spaces, and gaming stigmas have dramatically decreased in recent years. With new gaming technologies, such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, being currently launched, it is likely they will play a role in the provision of recreation services by professionals for years to come.
Dr. Andrew Lepp Ph.D.
Full ProfessorKent State University
Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
What are the best companies to work for a Recreation Center Director?
Dr. Andrew Lepp Ph.D.: Our students have had tremendous success in finding work in the public and nonprofit sectors. Our recent graduates find employment for local park districts like Cleveland Metro Parks, various state park agencies, and the National Park Service. Additionally, we have students employed as park rangers with the Army Corps of Engineers. Nonprofits like the YMCA are hiring right now, and our students are finding jobs there. Also, nonprofits providing recreation services or recreation-based therapies to populations with special needs are always in need of help. Campus Recreation is another good source of employment.
Diane Blankenship Ed.D.
Professor, Recreation and Parks Management Program Athletic Training Program Director/PreceptorFrostburg State University
Departmnet of Kinesiology and Recreation
How do you envision technology impacting Recreation Center Directors in the next 5 years?
Diane Blankenship Ed.D.: Graduates in 5 years will be expected to have a diversified skill set with various forms of technology for communication, marketing, and public relations, as well as various emerging technologies for video conferencing, creation of marketing and promotion material, and determining where to have technology-free zones. New apps emerge every year that the recreation and park industry embrace to communicate with people and encourage people to explore and interact with the natural environment, historic sites, and monuments.
Katherine Jordan Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorOhio University
Department of Recreation and Sport Pedagogy
How do you envision technology impacting Recreation Center Directors in the next 5 years?
Katherine Jordan Ph.D.: Over the past few years, we've already seen incredibly creative and exciting ways that technology has been used in our field. Researchers and practitioners alike use virtual and augmented reality to create recreational experiences for users. Drones have been used to help survey lands, create maps, enhance marketing materials, and have even become sources of recreation as well. These are two kinds of technologies that will continue to advance and, undoubtedly, have an impact on this field.
Another form of technology that we don't always think of related to recreational equipment, gear, and clothing. Take adaptive recreation, for instance. We currently live in a time during which individuals with various disabilities are participating in organized sports and adventure recreation, as well as various recreational habits that are done more so as individuals or small groups of friends, like cycling on a bike path. Technological advances have helped the recreation field grow more inclusive to people of all abilities. This will only continue to advance in the coming years and, I believe, this is an area where we will see rapid growth in the future.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we've also seen an increase in virtual programming. Of course, there are people who are unable to participate in virtual programming, due to a variety of reasons, but this is something that will continue in the coming years. Virtual programming can increase participation in recreational and leisure pursuits, as well as enhance community engagement. In the years to come, I imagine this kind of programming will continue and with time, I believe, we will be able to reach a more broad and diverse population.