How To Become A Youth Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is a youth director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Youth directors have an opportunity to be one of the most important role models in a child's life. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then this is a job that might be right up your alley. To be a youth director, you'll need to have great people skills, and in particular, you'll need to know how to interact with teens and address their emotional and social issues. In addition, you should exhibit great organizational skills and creativity. This is because youth directors are often responsible for developing programs and activities aimed at promoting social, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Youth directors work in a variety of settings, including churches, community outreach organizations, and social service programs. Some of the programs you will be involved in include after-school activities or sports, arts, and recreation programs. Youth directors will often be asked to work with at-risk youth; therefore, an understanding and ability to work with diverse people is often an important aspect of the job.

To get into this field, experience in volunteer management and community development is often required. Since youth directors work with diverse populations, being bilingual is also always a plus.

ScoreYouth DirectorUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,333

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.2

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.32%

Asian 2.78%

Black or African American 7.29%

Hispanic or Latino 10.44%

Unknown 3.58%

White 75.59%

Gender

female 44.74%

male 55.26%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a youth director

Explore youth director education requirements

Most common youth director degrees

Bachelor's

68.1 %

Master's

12.8 %

Associate

11.2 %

Start to develop specific youth director skills

Skills	Percentages
Youth Program	18.96%
Community Outreach	12.68%
Bible Studies	6.05%
Event Planning	5.57%
Youth Development	4.49%

Research youth director duties and responsibilities

Lead large group program monthly with kids.
Manage events including retreats, VBS, mission trips, and local activities.
Organize and lead weekly youth group meetings as well as retreats for jr. and sr. high students.
Expand discipleship small group ministry.

Get youth director experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a youth director. The most common roles before becoming a youth director include internship, teacher team lead and sales associate.

Prepare your youth director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your youth director resume.

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