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The average salary for a Summer Camp Director in the United States is $36,909 annually, which translates to about $18 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific camp type. For instance, directors in states like California and New York often earn higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for quality camp programs.
Entry-level Summer Camp Directors may start at lower salaries, while those with several years in the role can command significantly higher pay. For example, directors with over five years of experience often see salaries exceeding $50,000 annually.
As a Summer Camp Director, there are various career paths available. Advancement may lead to roles such as Camp Coordinator or Regional Director, often with increased responsibilities and salary potential. Understanding these dynamics equips job seekers with the knowledge needed to pursue fulfilling careers in camp management.
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The highest-paying states for summer camp directors are Alaska, Washington, and Mississippi. The lowest average summer camp director salary states are Tennessee, Kansas, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $48,642 | $23.39 |
| 2 | Washington | $51,037 | $24.54 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $44,012 | $21.16 |
| 4 | Vermont | $43,941 | $21.13 |
| 5 | Alaska | $63,241 | $30.40 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $44,431 | $21.36 |
| 7 | Maine | $46,984 | $22.59 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $42,890 | $20.62 |
| 9 | New York | $41,898 | $20.14 |
| 10 | Montana | $38,655 | $18.58 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $39,391 | $18.94 |
| 12 | Oregon | $44,187 | $21.24 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $43,739 | $21.03 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $42,575 | $20.47 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $42,235 | $20.31 |
| 17 | California | $39,760 | $19.12 |
| 18 | Alabama | $35,355 | $17.00 |
| 19 | Arizona | $39,252 | $18.87 |
| 20 | Delaware | $39,544 | $19.01 |
| 21 | Colorado | $36,716 | $17.65 |
| 22 | Idaho | $39,095 | $18.80 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $36,008 | $17.31 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $37,651 | $18.10 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $34,454 | $16.56 |
| 28 | Illinois | $33,691 | $16.20 |
| 29 | Virginia | $35,806 | $17.21 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $35,545 | $17.09 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $32,217 | $15.49 |
| 32 | Maryland | $34,842 | $16.75 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $29,811 | $14.33 |
| 34 | Ohio | $31,302 | $15.05 |
| 35 | Iowa | $29,291 | $14.08 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $27,674 | $13.30 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $32,105 | $15.44 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $31,772 | $15.28 |
| 39 | Georgia | $30,462 | $14.65 |
| 40 | Michigan | $30,989 | $14.90 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $35,118 | $16.88 |
| 42 | Nevada | $30,882 | $14.85 |
| 43 | Florida | $30,290 | $14.56 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $24,836 | $11.94 |
| 45 | Texas | $28,769 | $13.83 |
| 46 | Missouri | $28,312 | $13.61 |
| 47 | Kansas | $28,087 | $13.50 |
| 48 | Utah | $29,172 | $14.03 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $28,244 | $13.58 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| 51 | Indiana | $27,217 | $13.09 |
The highest-paying cities for summer camp directors are Seattle, WA, Novato, CA, and Brookline, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,632 | $24.82 |
| 2 | Novato, CA | $43,038 | $20.69 |
| 3 | Brookline, MA | $42,846 | $20.60 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $41,877 | $20.13 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $37,275 | $17.92 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $37,248 | $17.91 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $36,756 | $17.67 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $36,394 | $17.50 |
| 9 | Bethlehem, PA | $35,487 | $17.06 |
| 10 | Columbia, MD | $34,838 | $16.75 |
| 11 | Skokie, IL | $33,983 | $16.34 |
| 12 | Charleston, SC | $32,174 | $15.47 |
| 13 | Ann Arbor, MI | $30,633 | $14.73 |
| 14 | Tampa, FL | $30,464 | $14.65 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $29,041 | $13.96 |
| 16 | Columbia, MO | $28,282 | $13.60 |
A summer camp director's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $36,909 | $3,076 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of summer camp directors are senior counselor, director, and program lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation Leader | $33,848 | $2,821 | $16.27 | 32,073 |
| Recreation Leader | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 | 35,684 |
| Activities/Volunteer | $32,875 | $2,740 | $15.81 | 4,126 |
| Group Leader | $100,480 | $8,373 | $48.31 | 56,173 |
| Site Leader | $64,886 | $5,407 | $31.20 | 56,932 |
| Recreation Aide | $28,756 | $2,396 | $13.83 | 43,283 |
Top companies hiring summer camp directors now:
Summer camp director salaries at Union University and City of Jacksonville are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average summer camp director salary at companies like Newton Public Schools and University Settlement are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union University | $53,434 | $25.69 |
| 2 | City of Jacksonville | $48,612 | $23.37 |
| 3 | Newton Public Schools | $43,609 | $20.97 |
| 4 | University Settlement | $43,408 | $20.87 |
| 5 | Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | $41,738 | $20.07 |
| 6 | Shady Side Academy | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 7 | Shelby County | $40,067 | $19.26 |
| 8 | PSEA | $38,652 | $18.58 |
| 9 | Education Unlimited | $38,395 | $18.46 |
| 10 | Associated Recreation Council | $38,188 | $18.36 |
| 11 | A & S Co | $37,918 | $18.23 |
| 12 | Galileo | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| 13 | Gwinnett County | $37,407 | $17.98 |
| 14 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $37,232 | $17.90 |
| 15 | Live Nation Entertainment | $37,101 | $17.84 |
| 16 | New York Botanical Garden | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| 17 | City of Concord | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 18 | Black Rocket Productions | $35,951 | $17.28 |
| 19 | City of Charleston | $35,235 | $16.94 |
| 20 | City of Portland | $34,808 | $16.73 |
The average summer camp director salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $36,986 | $17.78 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| 3 | Government | $31,094 | $14.95 |
| 4 | Health Care | $26,021 | $12.51 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $25,996 | $12.50 |
The average summer camp director salary has risen by $8,189 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average summer camp director earned $28,720 annually, but today, they earn $36,909 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for summer camp directors over the last decade.
Compare summer camp director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare summer camp director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,900 | $17.74 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $34,200 | $16.44 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $32,500 | $15.64 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $31,800 | $15.31 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $31,000 | $14.89 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson University | Horizon Camps Summer Staff | Potsdam, NY | 06/27/2025 | $32,349 |
| Hatfield Public Schools | Billerica Enrichment Train-Up Summer Camp 2025 | Billerica, MA | 06/24/2025 | $74,548 |
| Utica City School District | Summer Camp Sports Program-Cheerleading | Utica, NY | 06/21/2025 | $83,480 |
| Lavner Education | Stem Camp Director-Summer Position | San Francisco, CA | 06/20/2025 | $70,436 |
| MacOn Resources | Summer Camp Staff | Decatur, IL | 06/19/2025 | $38,610 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Seasonal Summer Camp Maintenance Staff | Chicago, IL | 06/18/2025 | $37,566 |
| Lavner Education | Stem Camp Director-Summer Position | Ann Arbor, MI | 06/17/2025 | $57,393 |
| Fresh Air | Summer Camp Farm Staff (Seasonal, Residential) | Fishkill, NY | 06/16/2025 | $31,200 |
| Ymca of The Inland Northwest | Summer Day Camp Site Director-South | Spokane, WA | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| Ymcaspokane | Summer Day Camp Site Director-South | Spokane, WA | 06/16/2025 | $35,479 |
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