Best cities for a recreation director
The best cities for recreation directors are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for recreation directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for recreation directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a recreation director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for recreation directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for recreation directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a recreation director. While the absolute best city for recreation directors is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for recreation directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a recreation director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for recreation directors in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Oakland, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,079 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fremont, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. San Jose, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,831 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Stockton, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Sacramento, CA
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,301 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Glendale, AZ
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,175 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Chandler, AZ
Total recreation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,799 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for recreation directors
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
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Detailed list of the best cities for a recreation director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $73,239 | $40,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $73,079 | $40,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $72,899 | $40,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $72,831 | $40,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $72,322 | $40,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $72,301 | $40,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $59,322 | $34,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,270 | $34,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $59,175 | $34,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 10 | Chandler, AZ | $58,799 | $33,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 11 | Mesa, AZ | $58,774 | $34,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $58,724 | $33,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $71,329 | $39,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 14 | Tucson, AZ | $57,322 | $33,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,805 | $37,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $67,225 | $37,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 17 | Anaheim, CA | $67,168 | $37,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 18 | Bakersfield, CA | $69,880 | $38,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $67,002 | $37,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 20 | Santa Ana, CA | $66,980 | $37,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 21 | Irvine, CA | $66,804 | $37,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $51,627 | $28,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $64,701 | $36,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $58,127 | $32,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 25 | Chula Vista, CA | $64,301 | $36,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $59,197 | $34,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 27 | Islip, NY | $59,142 | $33,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 28 | New York, NY | $59,023 | $34,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | $49,968 | $30,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $49,857 | $30,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 31 | Oyster Bay, NY | $58,899 | $33,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 32 | Brookhaven, NY | $58,849 | $33,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $49,091 | $30,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $43,074 | $25,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,754 | $30,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | $39,985 | $25,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 37 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,167 | $27,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $49,036 | $27,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $48,905 | $27,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | Austin, TX | $42,683 | $25,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 41 | Seattle, WA | $52,500 | $30,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 42 | Charlotte, NC | $48,135 | $30,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 43 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,258 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 44 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,590 | $27,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $42,210 | $25,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 46 | Washington, DC | $61,057 | $36,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $42,164 | $25,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 48 | El Paso, TX | $44,596 | $26,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 49 | Laredo, TX | $42,450 | $24,000 | 257,156 | 1 |
| 50 | Irving, TX | $42,042 | $25,000 | 238,289 | - |
Highest paying cities for recreation directors
| Rank | City | Avg. recreation director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milpitas, CA | $72,885 |
| 2 | Corvallis, OR | $60,306 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $59,023 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $52,500 |
| 5 | Coventry, RI | $51,043 |
| 6 | Holyoke, MA | $50,880 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,167 |
| 8 | High Point, NC | $48,894 |
| 9 | Kailua, HI | $48,393 |
| 10 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $46,422 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,590 |
| 12 | Reading, PA | $45,486 |
| 13 | Thornton, CO | $43,532 |
| 14 | Fredericksburg, VA | $43,223 |
| 15 | Kissimmee, FL | $43,211 |
| 16 | Concord, NH | $42,170 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $42,039 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $41,525 |
| 19 | Rockford, IL | $40,657 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | $36,398 |











