How To Become A Recreation Leader: What It Is and Career Path

What is a recreation leader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP

A recreation leader develops sports and recreational programs that are well suited for a company's client base. They schedule the use of facilities so that activities do not conflict with one another. They ensure the right equipment is ready for all activities and also ensures they are functioning properly.

Further duties include ordering supplies needed for certain activities and advertises the availability of certain activities in order to draw others in, overseeing other recreational staff members and volunteers, securing funding for special projects and events, evaluating the effectiveness of certain programs, and makes modifications to them as needed, adhering to safety protocols and ensuring that other participants do likewise.

Skills required for this position include teamwork, among others. They should also be familiar with a variety of different sports and activities and have a wide range of likes and interests. They should enjoy helping others develop physically, mentally, and socially and be able to foster a sense of pride and teamwork in others. Good supervisory skills and the ability to lead others easily are also essential. A high school diploma is sufficient to qualify for this role. They earn between $16,470 and $38,460 per year, which amounts to between $7.91 and $18.49 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a recreation leader?

Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP

Associate Professor, Recreation Management Program Director, Springfield College

Be open, flexible, and willing to learn. I realize that after graduating from college, many individuals may feel as if they are mentally and emotionally done with learning, but the truth is that graduation is really just the beginning of lifelong learning as a recreation professional. If graduates are looking to work in parks and recreation, I would recommend applying for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification when they are eligible and feel ready to take on the CPRP exam.

If a recent graduate is unable to immediately crack into the field, I would recommend either volunteering in a recreation specialization they are interested in or perhaps looking at job descriptions for recreation positions they are interested in and find jobs that help to give them experience in the requested knowledge, skills, and abilities so that they can better position themselves as a future candidate.

ScoreRecreation LeaderUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $30,040

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.1

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.74%

Asian 5.12%

Black or African American 10.09%

Hispanic or Latino 15.53%

Unknown 6.08%

White 62.43%

Gender

female 56.16%

male 43.84%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a recreation leader

Explore recreation leader education requirements

Most common recreation leader degrees

Bachelor's

53.3 %

High School Diploma

19.4 %

Associate

18.6 %

Start to develop specific recreation leader skills

Skills	Percentages
CPR	25.37%
Customer Service	20.85%
Recreation Programs	6.52%
Recreational Facilities	4.53%
Role Model	4.20%

Complete relevant recreation leader training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreation leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a recreation leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreation leader resumes.

Gain additional recreation leader certifications

Recreation leader certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific recreation leader certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for recreation leaders include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

More About Certifications

Research recreation leader duties and responsibilities

Manage funds and resources to include developing the annual NAF budget, which include submission and prioritization of program component requirements.
Receive training in problem solving, peer mediation and first aid & CPR.
Train in CPR, food handlers, and videos of other health relate issues.
Include the use of PowerPoint, book references, and hands-on demonstration to verify attention to all learning styles.

Get recreation leader experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a recreation leader. The most common roles before becoming a recreation leader include sales associate, cashier team lead and internship.

Prepare your recreation leader resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreation leader resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a recreation leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable recreation leader resume templates

Build a professional recreation leader resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your recreation leader resume.

Apply for recreation leader jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a recreation leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do recreation leaders rate their job?

-/5

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Recreation leader reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Cons

Really there is nothing I do not like, because my job is to entertain and bring enjoyment to my community. I like to see the smiles of residents as they achieve a craft, it makes feel proud knowing I did that.