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The average salary for a Youth Program Director is approximately $34,971 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including experience, location, and the type of organization. For instance, professionals in urban areas or those employed by large nonprofits often earn higher salaries due to increased demand and funding.
States like California and New York typically offer higher pay scales for Youth Program Directors. Understanding these geographic trends can help job seekers target their applications effectively. Additionally, gaining experience in specialized areas, such as program development or fundraising, can enhance salary prospects.
For those looking to advance in their careers, pursuing further education or certifications related to youth development can be beneficial. This not only increases job competitiveness but can also lead to higher positions within organizations, such as program manager or director of operations.
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The average youth program director salary in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average youth program director salary states are South Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $65,975 | $31.72 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $52,533 | $25.26 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $43,702 | $21.01 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $41,041 | $19.73 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $38,055 | $18.30 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $30,870 | $14.84 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $45,794 | $22.02 |
| 8 | Georgia | $35,029 | $16.84 |
| 9 | Colorado | $33,622 | $16.16 |
| 10 | Texas | $32,889 | $15.81 |
| 11 | Delaware | $36,748 | $17.67 |
| 12 | California | $43,542 | $20.93 |
| 13 | Alabama | $29,986 | $14.42 |
| 14 | Maryland | $40,721 | $19.58 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $41,147 | $19.78 |
| 16 | Nevada | $32,743 | $15.74 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $29,206 | $14.04 |
| 18 | Maine | $35,487 | $17.06 |
| 19 | Montana | $30,505 | $14.67 |
| 20 | Vermont | $38,672 | $18.59 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $32,253 | $15.51 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $35,057 | $16.85 |
| 23 | Idaho | $30,321 | $14.58 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $28,718 | $13.81 |
| 25 | Alaska | $32,519 | $15.63 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $29,915 | $14.38 |
| 27 | Washington | $33,884 | $16.29 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $31,235 | $15.02 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $29,047 | $13.96 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $29,221 | $14.05 |
| 31 | Virginia | $33,736 | $16.22 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $26,580 | $12.78 |
| 33 | Florida | $29,492 | $14.18 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $26,774 | $12.87 |
| 35 | Arizona | $27,852 | $13.39 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,913 | $13.42 |
| 37 | Illinois | $28,107 | $13.51 |
| 38 | Missouri | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 39 | Iowa | $26,288 | $12.64 |
| 40 | Kansas | $28,347 | $13.63 |
| 41 | Michigan | $27,532 | $13.24 |
| 42 | Indiana | $27,832 | $13.38 |
| 43 | Oregon | $25,863 | $12.43 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $23,798 | $11.44 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $27,421 | $13.18 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $25,680 | $12.35 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $23,357 | $11.23 |
| 48 | Utah | $23,868 | $11.47 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $24,304 | $11.68 |
| 50 | Ohio | $24,319 | $11.69 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $24,480 | $11.77 |
The highest-paying cities for youth program directors are New York, NY, Norwalk, CT, and New Bedford, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $66,109 | $31.78 |
| 2 | Norwalk, CT | $52,216 | $25.10 |
| 3 | New Bedford, MA | $46,496 | $22.35 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $45,138 | $21.70 |
| 5 | Mount Laurel, NJ | $42,426 | $20.40 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $41,161 | $19.79 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $38,063 | $18.30 |
| 8 | Allentown, PA | $35,897 | $17.26 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $35,061 | $16.86 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $34,061 | $16.38 |
| 11 | Fort Collins, CO | $33,693 | $16.20 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $33,001 | $15.87 |
| 13 | Clearwater, FL | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $29,483 | $14.17 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $29,239 | $14.06 |
| 16 | Fargo, ND | $28,759 | $13.83 |
| 17 | Flagstaff, AZ | $27,733 | $13.33 |
| 18 | Ridgeland, MS | $26,574 | $12.78 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $25,633 | $12.32 |
| 20 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $24,726 | $11.89 |
A youth program director's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $34,971 | $2,914 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of youth program directors are director, deputy program director, and senior program officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of After School Program | $49,648 | $4,137 | $23.87 | 94,858 |
| Director Of Program Development | $69,014 | $5,751 | $33.18 | 131,077 |
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Program Supervisor | $45,460 | $3,788 | $21.86 | 65,551 |
| Sports Director | $61,211 | $5,101 | $29.43 | 13,106 |
| Youth Program Manager | $53,856 | $4,488 | $25.89 | 89,576 |
Top companies hiring youth program directors now:
Youth program director salaries at Los Angeles County Museum of Art and City Of Norwalk, Connecticut are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth program director salary at companies like Quad and Dignity Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | $51,655 | $24.83 |
| 2 | City Of Norwalk, Connecticut | $38,142 | $18.34 |
| 3 | Quad | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 4 | Dignity Health | $35,781 | $17.20 |
| 5 | LifeWorks | $35,089 | $16.87 |
| 6 | The Home For Little Wanderers | $34,771 | $16.72 |
| 7 | Aspiranet | $34,295 | $16.49 |
| 8 | University of Georgia Small Business Development Center | $34,261 | $16.47 |
| 9 | Texas Department of Transportation | $33,734 | $16.22 |
| 10 | United Way of Greater Lafayette | $33,669 | $16.19 |
| 11 | Galileo | $32,989 | $15.86 |
| 12 | Town Sports International Holdings | $32,950 | $15.84 |
| 13 | YMCA | $32,863 | $15.80 |
| 14 | Rbscc | $32,852 | $15.79 |
| 15 | Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa | $32,824 | $15.78 |
| 16 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $32,821 | $15.78 |
| 17 | Americorps | $32,789 | $15.76 |
| 18 | Mercer Island Country Club | $32,742 | $15.74 |
| 19 | Genesis Health Clubs | $32,677 | $15.71 |
| 20 | Skyhawks Sports Academy | $32,307 | $15.53 |
The average youth program director salary has risen by $2,627 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth program director earned $32,344 annually, but today, they earn $34,971 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for youth program directors over the last decade.
Compare youth program director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare youth program director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,000 | $16.81 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $34,100 | $16.38 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $32,800 | $15.77 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | $32,800 | $15.76 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $32,500 | $15.61 | +3.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA of The Suncoast | Youth Development Program Management Director-Hernando School AGE Programs | Spring Hill, FL | 06/24/2025 | $44,500 |
| Department of The Air Force | Youth Programs Director | Edwards Air Force Base, CA | 06/22/2025 | $73,045 |
| Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, Inc. | Youth Program Director | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Harris County (Tx | Librarian I-Youth Programming (South Houston Branch Library) | Houston, TX | 06/06/2025 | $51,987 |
| Wenatchee School District | Youth Development Staff-After School Programs @ Multiple Locations | Wenatchee, WA | 05/28/2025 | $34,769 |
| YMCA of The Suncoast | A Youth Development Program Management Director-Pinellas/Pasco School AGE Programs | Clearwater, FL | 05/25/2025 | $44,500 |
| Health Fitness Corporation | Youth Program Staff (Seasonal) | Bethel, AK | 05/13/2025 | $37,566 |
| Ymca of Foothills | Program Director-Youth and Teens | Los Angeles, CA | 05/09/2025 | $66,560 |
| Healthfitness | Youth Program Staff (Seasonal) | Bethel, AK | 05/08/2025 | $37,566 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio | Summer Youth Program Staff | Enon, OH | 05/07/2025 | $35,479 |
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