Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The Recreation Program Coordinator plays a vital role in developing and managing recreational programs that enhance community engagement and well-being. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $41,569 per year or about $20 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, with some states offering higher salaries due to demand and cost of living.
States such as California, New York, and Texas are known for providing competitive compensation for Recreation Program Coordinators. Additionally, positions in urban areas often command higher salaries compared to rural locations.
In this field, opportunities exist in various sectors, including local government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. Those with advanced qualifications or specialized skills may find higher-paying roles, particularly in management or specialized program development.
To maximize earning potential, it's beneficial to remain informed about industry trends and seek continuous professional development.
Let Zippia find your next recreation program coordinator job
Let Zippia find your next recreation program coordinator job
The highest-paying states for recreation program coordinators are Alaska, Mississippi, and California. The lowest average recreation program coordinator salary states are Kansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $59,245 | $28.48 |
| 2 | Idaho | $49,375 | $23.74 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $54,573 | $26.24 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $53,790 | $25.86 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $46,647 | $22.43 |
| 6 | Delaware | $46,165 | $22.19 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $44,351 | $21.32 |
| 8 | Montana | $46,503 | $22.36 |
| 9 | Colorado | $49,953 | $24.02 |
| 10 | Alaska | $61,447 | $29.54 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $55,525 | $26.69 |
| 12 | California | $58,503 | $28.13 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $45,244 | $21.75 |
| 14 | Illinois | $47,699 | $22.93 |
| 15 | Alabama | $43,144 | $20.74 |
| 16 | Washington | $52,504 | $25.24 |
| 17 | Oregon | $44,742 | $21.51 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $44,939 | $21.61 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $53,741 | $25.84 |
| 20 | Maine | $44,695 | $21.49 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $46,164 | $22.19 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $43,726 | $21.02 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $47,439 | $22.81 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $41,513 | $19.96 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $45,968 | $22.10 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $41,754 | $20.07 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $40,371 | $19.41 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $39,405 | $18.94 |
| 29 | Arizona | $40,643 | $19.54 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $41,415 | $19.91 |
| 31 | New York | $40,492 | $19.47 |
| 32 | Georgia | $40,731 | $19.58 |
| 33 | Texas | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| 34 | Vermont | $42,217 | $20.30 |
| 35 | Nevada | $38,914 | $18.71 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $37,061 | $17.82 |
| 37 | Virginia | $42,646 | $20.50 |
| 38 | Michigan | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| 39 | Kansas | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| 40 | Utah | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| 41 | Iowa | $38,708 | $18.61 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,046 | $18.77 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $34,267 | $16.47 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,818 | $18.18 |
| 45 | Florida | $38,182 | $18.36 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,101 | $16.88 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $35,031 | $16.84 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 49 | Maryland | $36,572 | $17.58 |
| 50 | Ohio | $32,652 | $15.70 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $30,088 | $14.47 |
The highest-paying cities for recreation program coordinators are San Francisco, CA, Eagan, MN, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $60,784 | $29.22 |
| 2 | Eagan, MN | $54,707 | $26.30 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $49,951 | $24.01 |
| 4 | Downers Grove, IL | $47,824 | $22.99 |
| 5 | Freehold, NJ | $46,253 | $22.24 |
| 6 | Eugene, OR | $45,313 | $21.79 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT | $45,269 | $21.76 |
| 8 | Leesburg, VA | $43,658 | $20.99 |
| 9 | La Crosse, WI | $43,551 | $20.94 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $42,014 | $20.20 |
| 11 | Yuma, AZ | $41,388 | $19.90 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $40,744 | $19.59 |
| 13 | Carson City, NV | $40,059 | $19.26 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $38,936 | $18.72 |
| 15 | Cedar Falls, IA | $38,858 | $18.68 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,112 | $17.84 |
| 17 | Draper, UT | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 18 | Wentzville, MO | $35,985 | $17.30 |
| 19 | Lenexa, KS | $35,673 | $17.15 |
A recreation program coordinator's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $56,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $41,569 | $3,464 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of recreation program coordinators are senior counselor, program lead, and group leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Leader | $100,480 | $8,373 | $48.31 | 56,173 |
| Activities Director | $44,982 | $3,748 | $21.63 | 6,845 |
| Camp Counselor | $24,340 | $2,028 | $11.70 | 28,182 |
| Orientation Leader | $33,848 | $2,821 | $16.27 | 32,073 |
| Summer Camp Counselor | $25,618 | $2,135 | $12.32 | 31,954 |
| Program Lead | $100,727 | $8,394 | $48.43 | 61,632 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for recreation program coordinators, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Ariel Rodríguez Ph.D., CPRP
Associate Professor, Recreation Management Program Director, Springfield College
Top companies hiring recreation program coordinators now:
Recreation program coordinator salaries at University of Nevada, Reno and Salt Lake County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recreation program coordinator salary at companies like Howard County Government and University of Iowa Center for Advancement are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nevada, Reno | $50,301 | $24.18 |
| 2 | Salt Lake County | $45,883 | $22.06 |
| 3 | Howard County Government | $45,651 | $21.95 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $45,498 | $21.87 |
| 5 | Loudoun County Social Svc | $44,334 | $21.31 |
| 6 | Southest Association For Special Parks | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| 7 | City of Redding | $43,389 | $20.86 |
| 8 | City of Plymouth, MN | $42,882 | $20.62 |
| 9 | Port of Long Beach | $42,667 | $20.51 |
| 10 | Danville, VA - Government | $42,439 | $20.40 |
| 11 | Americorps | $42,286 | $20.33 |
| 12 | City of Union City | $42,165 | $20.27 |
| 13 | City of Dallas Employees | $41,994 | $20.19 |
| 14 | Minnesota Limited | $41,987 | $20.19 |
| 15 | City of Eugene | $41,908 | $20.15 |
| 16 | City & County Of San Francisco - Police Department (sfpd) | $41,744 | $20.07 |
| 17 | City of Portland | $41,589 | $19.99 |
| 18 | Girl Scouts of Nassau County | $41,560 | $19.98 |
| 19 | WarnerMedia | $41,446 | $19.93 |
| 20 | City of Wentzville | $41,262 | $19.84 |
The average recreation program coordinator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $40,537 | $19.49 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $40,300 | $19.38 |
| 3 | Education | $39,113 | $18.80 |
| 4 | Health Care | $33,574 | $16.14 |
The average recreation program coordinator salary has risen by $9,223 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recreation program coordinator earned $32,346 annually, but today, they earn $41,569 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for recreation program coordinators over the last decade.
Compare recreation program coordinator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare recreation program coordinator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,600 | $19.98 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $38,500 | $18.52 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $36,600 | $17.61 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $35,900 | $17.24 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $34,900 | $16.77 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Companies | Recreation Coordinator-Fitness Programs | Lakewood, CO | 06/30/2025 | $65,323 |
| City of Pittsburg, Pa | Recreation Program Coordinator | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/23/2025 | $54,080 |
| Newport News City, Va | Recreation Program Coordinator-Community Facilities | Newport News, VA | 06/22/2025 | $53,913 |
| Kent School District | Recreation Staff (Lifeguard & Swim Instructor) 2025 Continuous | Ellensburg, WA | 06/21/2025 | $42,241 |
| Cobb County, Ga | Recreation Program Coordinator I-Venue Management-Mable House Amphitheatre | Marietta, GA | 06/19/2025 | $50,965 |
| City of Carlsbad (Ca | Recreation Programs/Services Coordinator | Carlsbad, CA | 06/15/2025 | $45,622 |
| City of Fort Lauderdale, Fl | Recreation Program Coordinator (Aquatics) | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/12/2025 | $44,474 |
| City of Orlando | Recreation Program Coordinator | Orlando, FL | 06/12/2025 | $51,925 |
| Town of Scarborough | Recreation Program Coordinator | Hope, ME | 05/24/2025 | $51,376 |
| City of Gallatin, Tn | Lifeguard-Parks & Recreation Department/Civic Center (Seasonal Position) | Gallatin, TN | 05/23/2025 | $27,131 |
Search for recreation program coordinator jobs