Post job

What is a recreation program coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a recreation program coordinator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.99 an hour? That's $41,569 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 28,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a recreation program coordinator?

Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRPAriel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP LinkedIn profile

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 Program CoordinatorUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,569

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.1

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 5.06%

Black or African American 12.40%

Hispanic or Latino 15.02%

Unknown 5.57%

White 61.28%

Gender

female 57.07%

male 42.93%

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

Recreation program coordinator career paths

Key steps to become a recreation program coordinator

  1. Explore recreation program coordinator education requirements

    Most common recreation program coordinator degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.3 %

    Master's

    11.1 %

    Associate

    9.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific recreation program coordinator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CPR25.80%
    Recreation Programs19.57%
    Flyers6.77%
    Program Budget6.71%
    Community Outreach5.66%
  3. Complete relevant recreation program coordinator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New recreation program coordinators 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 program coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real recreation program coordinator resumes.
  4. Research recreation program coordinator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage funds and resources to include developing the annual NAF budget, which include submission and prioritization of program component requirements.
    • Incorporate knowledge of therapeutic concepts and methods for determining appropriate recreation therapy services for psychiatric, and chemically dependent, patients.
    • Maintain written and personal communication with general public and local community through ongoing PowerPoint presentations, weekly newsletters and monthly newspaper.
  5. Prepare your recreation program coordinator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your recreation program coordinator 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 program coordinator 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 program coordinator resume templates

    Build a professional recreation program coordinator 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 program coordinator resume.
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
    Recreation Program Coordinator Resume
  6. Apply for recreation program coordinator jobs

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

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

How did you land your first recreation program coordinator job

Zippi

Are you a recreation program coordinator?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average recreation program coordinator salary

The average recreation program coordinator salary in the United States is $41,569 per year or $20 per hour. Recreation program coordinator salaries range between $30,000 and $56,000 per year.

Average recreation program coordinator salary
$41,569 Yearly
$19.99 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do recreation program coordinators rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Recreation program coordinator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I like the engagement of helping my residents in actives, such as arts and crafts.

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.


Working as a recreation program coordinator? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse personal care and attendants jobs