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Parks recreation director salary
Average parks recreation director salary
$48,942
Understanding Parks Recreation Director Salaries
The average salary for a Parks Recreation Director is approximately $48,942 per year, translating to around $24 per hour. This position involves overseeing recreational programs, managing staff, and ensuring community members have access to quality facilities. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, with states like California and New York often offering higher compensation due to cost of living and demand for recreational services.
Salary by State
In states like Texas, the average salary may hover around $45,000, while Florida tends to offer about $47,000. These figures highlight the importance of considering location when evaluating salary expectations. Additionally, experience plays a crucial role; those with extensive backgrounds may command higher wages.
Career Growth Opportunities
As the demand for recreational spaces increases, so does the need for skilled directors. Pursuing certifications in management and community engagement can enhance career prospects. Explore local job boards and networking events to find opportunities that align with your career goals.
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Where can a Parks Recreation Director earn more?
Parks recreation director salary estimates from across the web
Average parks recreation director salary by state
The highest-paying states for parks recreation directors are Mississippi, Alaska, and West Virginia. The lowest average parks recreation director salary states are Kentucky, Louisiana, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for parks recreation directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $71,251 | $34.26 |
| 2 | Alaska | $68,301 | $32.84 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $67,432 | $32.42 |
| 4 | California | $61,048 | $29.35 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $57,482 | $27.64 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $56,572 | $27.20 |
| 7 | Alabama | $50,907 | $24.47 |
| 8 | Oregon | $59,884 | $28.79 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $59,381 | $28.55 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $51,682 | $24.85 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $62,817 | $30.20 |
| 12 | Washington | $58,140 | $27.95 |
| 13 | Texas | $53,746 | $25.84 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $55,698 | $26.78 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $56,117 | $26.98 |
| 16 | Delaware | $58,387 | $28.07 |
| 17 | Nevada | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $51,011 | $24.52 |
| 19 | New York | $50,249 | $24.16 |
| 20 | Idaho | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| 21 | Colorado | $48,017 | $23.09 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $49,885 | $23.98 |
| 23 | Arizona | $49,112 | $23.61 |
| 24 | Georgia | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $50,037 | $24.06 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $41,524 | $19.96 |
| 27 | Illinois | $46,871 | $22.53 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $46,829 | $22.51 |
| 29 | Maine | $50,099 | $24.09 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $49,952 | $24.02 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $41,082 | $19.75 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $45,997 | $22.11 |
| 33 | Florida | $47,145 | $22.67 |
| 34 | Vermont | $47,278 | $22.73 |
| 35 | Virginia | $46,658 | $22.43 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $42,472 | $20.42 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $38,136 | $18.33 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $39,822 | $19.15 |
| 39 | Utah | $40,995 | $19.71 |
| 40 | Maryland | $45,974 | $22.10 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $37,415 | $17.99 |
| 42 | Montana | $42,117 | $20.25 |
| 43 | Michigan | $40,899 | $19.66 |
| 44 | Iowa | $34,824 | $16.74 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $38,076 | $18.31 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $39,164 | $18.83 |
| 47 | Indiana | $38,763 | $18.64 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $37,702 | $18.13 |
| 49 | Kansas | $36,138 | $17.37 |
| 50 | Ohio | $36,254 | $17.43 |
| 51 | Missouri | $36,655 | $17.62 |
Highest paying cities for parks recreation directors
The highest-paying cities for parks recreation directors are Cupertino, CA, Seattle, WA, and Montclair, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $68,142 | $32.76 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $58,723 | $28.23 |
| 3 | Montclair, NJ | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| 4 | Worcester, MA | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $54,368 | $26.14 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $53,732 | $25.83 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $52,168 | $25.08 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $50,685 | $24.37 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,033 | $23.57 |
| 10 | Wesley Chapel, FL | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $47,038 | $22.61 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $46,133 | $22.18 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $41,963 | $20.17 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $41,588 | $19.99 |
| 16 | Taylorsville, UT | $40,713 | $19.57 |
| 17 | West Lafayette, IN | $38,153 | $18.34 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $36,108 | $17.36 |
Parks recreation director salary details
A parks recreation director's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a parks recreation director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $48,942 | $4,079 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying parks recreation director jobs
The highest paying types of parks recreation directors are senior counselor, director, and program lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Camp Counselor | $25,618 | $2,135 | $12.32 | 31,954 |
| Site Leader | $64,886 | $5,407 | $31.20 | 56,932 |
| Day Camp Counselor | $29,384 | $2,449 | $14.13 | 32,895 |
| Activities Leader | $30,329 | $2,527 | $14.58 | 35,544 |
| Camp Counselor | $24,340 | $2,028 | $11.70 | 28,182 |
| Activities/Volunteer | $32,875 | $2,740 | $15.81 | 4,126 |
Top companies hiring parks recreation directors now:
Which companies pay parks recreation directors the most?
Parks recreation director salaries at Icma-rc and City of Cupertino are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average parks recreation director salary at companies like Montclair State University and Ilitch Holdings are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icma-rc | $98,591 | $47.40 |
| 2 | City of Cupertino | $63,162 | $30.37 |
| 3 | Montclair State University | $62,776 | $30.18 |
| 4 | Ilitch Holdings | $59,758 | $28.73 |
| 5 | City of Baltimore | $58,252 | $28.01 |
| 6 | Student Conservation Association | $57,075 | $27.44 |
| 7 | New York State Restaurant Association | $55,450 | $26.66 |
| 8 | City of Reno | $52,316 | $25.15 |
| 9 | Salt Lake County | $50,573 | $24.31 |
| 10 | City of Austin | $45,789 | $22.01 |
| 11 | Minnesota Limited | $44,226 | $21.26 |
| 12 | GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation | $41,531 | $19.97 |
| 13 | Bluefield, VA | $41,531 | $19.97 |
| 14 | City of Spokane | $40,166 | $19.31 |
| 15 | City of Stephenville | $39,893 | $19.18 |
| 16 | City of Cape Coral | $39,413 | $18.95 |
| 17 | Charter Schools USA | $38,349 | $18.44 |
| 18 | Howard County Government | $38,186 | $18.36 |
| 19 | Compass Group USA | $36,873 | $17.73 |
| 20 | City of Hillsboro | $35,093 | $16.87 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Parks recreation director salary trends
The average parks recreation director salary has risen by $10,859 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average parks recreation director earned $38,083 annually, but today, they earn $48,942 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for parks recreation directors over the last decade.
Compare parks recreation director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average parks recreation director salary over time
Compare parks recreation director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Parks recreation director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,900 | $23.53 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $45,300 | $21.80 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $43,100 | $20.73 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $42,200 | $20.30 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $41,100 | $19.75 | +2.3% |
Recently added parks recreation director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags, Corp | Park Characters (WHO Can Dance) | Buena Park, CA | 06/28/2025 | $34,728 |
| Coconino County | Coconino County Fair Temporary Staff-Parks and Recreation (0625) | Flagstaff, AZ | 06/22/2025 | $37,253 |
| City of Ellsworth, Me | Director of Parks and Recreation | Ellsworth, ME | 05/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Crouse Hospital | Director Security and Parking | Syracuse, NY | 05/15/2025 | $100,000 |
| Lexington-Fayette Metro Ky | Parks and Recreation 2025 Seasonal Job Openings | Lexington, KY | 05/13/2025 | $31,305 |
| City of Bluefield, Wv | Parks and Recreation Deputy Director | Bluefield, WV | 04/27/2025 | $40,000 |
| City of Bluefield, Wv | Parks and Recreation Deputy Director | Bluefield, WV | 03/30/2025 | $40,000 |
| North Attleborough Public Schools | Summer Season 2025--Parks & Recreation | North Attleborough, MA | 03/25/2025 | $32,098 |
| International City Management | City of Dunedin, FL-Director of Parks & Recreation | Dunedin, FL | 03/22/2025 | $111,301 |
| International City Management | Watershed and Parks Director | Gresham, OR | 03/20/2025 | $125,872 |
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