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A Student Activities Director plays a crucial role in shaping student life and promoting engagement on campus. The average salary for this position is $52,822 annually, translating to about $25 per hour. Salaries can differ based on geographic location, with higher wages typically found in states with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York.
In addition to location, experience significantly influences earnings. Entry-level positions may start below the average, while seasoned directors with years of experience can earn well above the average salary. According to various salary estimates, the top-paying states for this role include:
For those pursuing a career as a Student Activities Director, it's beneficial to research specific salary data for your state and consider the impact of your educational background and experience on your earning potential. Understanding these factors can help you negotiate salaries effectively and plan your career path.
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The average student activities director salary in Delaware, Connecticut, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average student activities director salary states are South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $57,841 | $27.81 |
| 2 | Delaware | $61,501 | $29.57 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $59,732 | $28.72 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $54,728 | $26.31 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $61,007 | $29.33 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $55,518 | $26.69 |
| 7 | New York | $56,526 | $27.18 |
| 8 | Indiana | $54,876 | $26.38 |
| 9 | Ohio | $57,251 | $27.52 |
| 10 | Nevada | $59,868 | $28.78 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $60,447 | $29.06 |
| 12 | Utah | $56,985 | $27.40 |
| 13 | Michigan | $54,998 | $26.44 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $55,195 | $26.54 |
| 15 | Vermont | $53,513 | $25.73 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $54,479 | $26.19 |
| 17 | Maine | $54,519 | $26.21 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $56,287 | $27.06 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $52,919 | $25.44 |
| 20 | Arkansas | $49,455 | $23.78 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $51,462 | $24.74 |
| 22 | Arizona | $51,864 | $24.93 |
| 23 | California | $57,699 | $27.74 |
| 24 | Missouri | $51,491 | $24.76 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $49,879 | $23.98 |
| 26 | Colorado | $53,076 | $25.52 |
| 27 | Texas | $53,292 | $25.62 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $46,097 | $22.16 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $50,289 | $24.18 |
| 30 | Idaho | $52,297 | $25.14 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $51,806 | $24.91 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $44,487 | $21.39 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $40,468 | $19.46 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,967 | $21.62 |
| 35 | Maryland | $51,466 | $24.74 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $40,069 | $19.26 |
| 37 | Alabama | $40,623 | $19.53 |
| 38 | Illinois | $41,757 | $20.08 |
| 39 | Oregon | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| 40 | Florida | $47,103 | $22.65 |
| 41 | Virginia | $46,237 | $22.23 |
| 42 | Iowa | $36,601 | $17.60 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $36,393 | $17.50 |
| 44 | Georgia | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| 45 | Washington | $43,557 | $20.94 |
| 46 | New Jersey | $45,656 | $21.95 |
| 47 | Alaska | $43,155 | $20.75 |
| 48 | Kansas | $36,135 | $17.37 |
| 49 | Montana | $38,331 | $18.43 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $42,836 | $20.59 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $39,745 | $19.11 |
The highest-paying cities for student activities directors are San Jose, CA, Tooele, UT, and Pueblo, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $59,648 | $28.68 |
| 2 | Tooele, UT | $57,486 | $27.64 |
| 3 | Pueblo, CO | $55,343 | $26.61 |
| 4 | Syracuse, NY | $54,356 | $26.13 |
| 5 | Waco, TX | $53,677 | $25.81 |
| 6 | Joplin, MO | $52,400 | $25.19 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $51,614 | $24.81 |
| 8 | Winchester, VA | $46,641 | $22.42 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $43,757 | $21.04 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $41,986 | $20.19 |
A student activities director's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $52,822 | $4,402 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
The highest paying types of student activities directors are general director, director training & education, and director of teacher education.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Training & Education | $70,224 | $5,852 | $33.76 | 36,551 |
| Student Manager | $50,950 | $4,246 | $24.50 | 14,721 |
| Youth Ministry Director | $43,203 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 7,224 |
| Youth Director | $44,333 | $3,694 | $21.31 | 7,501 |
| Choir Director | $51,590 | $4,299 | $24.80 | 4,799 |
| General Director | $109,550 | $9,129 | $52.67 | 74,664 |
Top companies hiring student activities directors now:
Student activities director salaries at Chicago State University and Oregon Health & Science University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average student activities director salary at companies like Coe and Colorado State Express are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago State University | $82,549 | $39.69 |
| 2 | Oregon Health & Science University | $82,256 | $39.55 |
| 3 | Coe | $61,713 | $29.67 |
| 4 | Colorado State Express | $53,540 | $25.74 |
| 5 | Urban Discovery Schools | $51,655 | $24.83 |
| 6 | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | $51,595 | $24.81 |
| 7 | Shenandoah University | $48,248 | $23.20 |
| 8 | Thiel College | $47,198 | $22.69 |
| 9 | Shaw University | $46,166 | $22.20 |
| 10 | Missouri Southern State University | $43,287 | $20.81 |
| 11 | Baltimore City Community College | $38,236 | $18.38 |
| 12 | Western State College of Law | $38,033 | $18.29 |
| 13 | State of Colorado | $37,385 | $17.97 |
| 14 | Aramark | $33,145 | $15.94 |
| 15 | East Side Union High School District | $31,858 | $15.32 |
| 16 | South Dakota Board Of Regents | $30,547 | $14.69 |
The average student activities director salary has risen by $10,117 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average student activities director earned $42,705 annually, but today, they earn $52,822 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for student activities directors over the last decade.
Compare student activities director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare student activities director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,800 | $25.40 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $51,400 | $24.69 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $47,800 | $22.97 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $45,600 | $21.94 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $45,200 | $21.74 | -0.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culver Academies | Student Activities-Chaperone | Culver, IN | 05/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | Student Activities Associate | Aurora, IL | 05/16/2025 | $46,900 |
| Archdiocese of Seattle Catholic Schools | Student Activities Director, Seattle Prep | Seattle, WA | 04/18/2025 | $26,000 |
| Seattle Preparatory School | Student Activities Director | Seattle, WA | 04/18/2025 | $26,000 |
| Associated Students, Inc. | ERC Student Director | San Francisco, CA | 04/07/2025 | $42,742 |
| Culver Academies | Student Activities-Chaperone | Culver, IN | 04/04/2025 | $31,305 |
| Saint Ignatius College Prep | Director of Student Activities | Chicago, IL | 03/20/2025 | $40,000 |
| Lansing School District | Director of Student Success | Lansing, MI | 02/25/2025 | $107,888 |
| Crean Lutheran High School | Director of Student Activities | Irvine, CA | 02/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Culver Academies | Student Activities-Chaperone | Culver, IN | 01/11/2025 | $31,305 |
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