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Youth leader salary
Average youth leader salary
$14.17
Understanding Youth Leader Salaries
As a youth leader, you play a crucial role in shaping the lives of young individuals. In the United States, the average salary for this position is $29,481 per year or around $14 per hour. However, salaries can differ based on several factors, including state, experience level, and the specific environment in which a youth leader operates.
Salary Variations by State
For instance, youth leaders in states like California and New York may earn higher salaries compared to those in less populous states. Additionally, experience plays a significant role in salary potential. Entry-level positions may start around $25,000, while those with several years of experience can command salaries upwards of $35,000.
Career Opportunities
If you're considering a career as a youth leader, it's beneficial to explore opportunities in various settings, including schools, community centers, and nonprofit organizations. Each environment may offer different salary structures and benefits. Utilize resources such as job boards and career websites to find positions that align with your expertise and passion for working with youth.
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Where can a Youth Leader earn more?
Youth leader salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level youth leader | $25,800 | $12.43 |
| Mid-level youth leader | $27,700 | $13.31 |
| Senior-level youth leader | $33,300 | $15.99 |
Youth leader salary estimates from across the web
Average youth leader salary by state
The average youth leader salary in Pennsylvania, Maine, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average youth leader salary states are Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for youth leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $33,586 | $16.15 |
| 2 | New York | $31,289 | $15.04 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $31,019 | $14.91 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $29,719 | $14.29 |
| 5 | Maine | $31,753 | $15.27 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| 7 | Illinois | $30,106 | $14.47 |
| 8 | Ohio | $30,055 | $14.45 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $26,588 | $12.78 |
| 10 | California | $30,193 | $14.52 |
| 11 | Oregon | $26,912 | $12.94 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $26,500 | $12.74 |
| 13 | Vermont | $28,899 | $13.89 |
| 14 | Michigan | $28,498 | $13.70 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $26,897 | $12.93 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $26,854 | $12.91 |
| 17 | Florida | $28,264 | $13.59 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $28,242 | $13.58 |
| 19 | Washington | $26,085 | $12.54 |
| 20 | Utah | $24,915 | $11.98 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $27,188 | $13.07 |
| 22 | Arizona | $25,534 | $12.28 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $28,793 | $13.84 |
| 24 | Maryland | $27,773 | $13.35 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $26,062 | $12.53 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $26,237 | $12.61 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $24,968 | $12.00 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| 29 | Nevada | $23,520 | $11.31 |
| 30 | Delaware | $24,709 | $11.88 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $22,441 | $10.79 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $23,249 | $11.18 |
| 33 | Virginia | $25,039 | $12.04 |
| 34 | Kansas | $22,371 | $10.76 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $21,835 | $10.50 |
| 36 | Alaska | $21,402 | $10.29 |
| 37 | Montana | $22,140 | $10.64 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,895 | $11.01 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $22,691 | $10.91 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $22,884 | $11.00 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $23,050 | $11.08 |
| 42 | Colorado | $22,305 | $10.72 |
| 43 | Georgia | $23,960 | $11.52 |
| 44 | Indiana | $22,853 | $10.99 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $21,172 | $10.18 |
| 46 | Missouri | $22,570 | $10.85 |
| 47 | Iowa | $21,414 | $10.30 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $21,435 | $10.31 |
| 49 | Alabama | $21,563 | $10.37 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,481 | $10.33 |
| 51 | Idaho | $21,363 | $10.27 |
Highest paying cities for youth leaders
The highest-paying cities for youth leaders are New York, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Compton, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $31,257 | $15.03 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $31,019 | $14.91 |
| 3 | Compton, CA | $30,327 | $14.58 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $30,261 | $14.55 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $29,724 | $14.29 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids, MI | $28,105 | $13.51 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $27,892 | $13.41 |
| 8 | Eugene, OR | $27,294 | $13.12 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $26,241 | $12.62 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $25,771 | $12.39 |
| 11 | South Salt Lake, UT | $24,893 | $11.97 |
| 12 | Hinesville, GA | $24,029 | $11.55 |
| 13 | Chattanooga, TN | $23,310 | $11.21 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $23,217 | $11.16 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $22,505 | $10.82 |
| 16 | Overland Park, KS | $22,381 | $10.76 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $22,306 | $10.72 |
| 18 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,540 | $10.36 |
Youth leader salary details
A youth leader's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a youth leader's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,481 | $2,457 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying youth leader jobs
The highest paying types of youth leaders are program lead, group leader, and leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Social Services | $56,932 | $4,744 | $27.37 | 86,154 |
| Residential Manager | $39,112 | $3,259 | $18.80 | 11,464 |
| Student Manager | $50,950 | $4,246 | $24.50 | 14,721 |
| Youth Development Professional | $43,758 | $3,647 | $21.04 | 91,372 |
| Corps Member | $30,813 | $2,568 | $14.81 | 4,837 |
| House Manager | $37,235 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 28,706 |
Top companies hiring youth leaders now:
Which companies pay youth leaders the most?
Youth leader salaries at First Book and New York University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average youth leader salary at companies like Southwest Key Programs and Chicago Public Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Book | $40,258 | $19.35 |
| 2 | New York University | $39,999 | $19.23 |
| 3 | Southwest Key Programs | $34,627 | $16.65 |
| 4 | Chicago Public Schools | $32,451 | $15.60 |
| 5 | Salt Lake County | $32,152 | $15.46 |
| 6 | McLeod Health | $31,949 | $15.36 |
| 7 | Campbell Union High School District | $31,597 | $15.19 |
| 8 | Pasadena Unified School District | $30,124 | $14.48 |
| 9 | Harmonium Inc | $29,958 | $14.40 |
| 10 | City of Worcester | $29,905 | $14.38 |
| 11 | Think Together | $29,806 | $14.33 |
| 12 | Right At School | $29,717 | $14.29 |
| 13 | COMMUNITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | $29,594 | $14.23 |
| 14 | The GEO Group | $29,494 | $14.18 |
| 15 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $29,481 | $14.17 |
| 16 | EJE Academies | $29,409 | $14.14 |
| 17 | Chautauqua Institution | $29,132 | $14.01 |
| 18 | Supportive Concepts for Families | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| 19 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $29,028 | $13.96 |
| 20 | State of Ohio | $29,005 | $13.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Youth Leader salary by industry
The average youth leader salary varies across industries:
- The average youth leader salary in the education industry is $29,561, the highest of any industry.
- The average youth leader salary in the finance industry is $29,341.
- Youth leaders in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $26,498, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for youth leaders
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $29,561 | $14.21 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $29,341 | $14.11 |
| 3 | Health Care | $27,633 | $13.29 |
| 4 | Government | $26,859 | $12.91 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $26,498 | $12.74 |
High paying youth leader jobs
Youth leader salary trends
The average youth leader salary has risen by $4,634 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average youth leader earned $24,847 annually, but today, they earn $29,481 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for youth leaders over the last decade.
Compare youth leader salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average youth leader salary over time
Compare youth leader salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Youth leader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,500 | $14.17 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $28,400 | $13.67 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $27,700 | $13.30 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $27,200 | $13.05 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | $27,400 | $13.17 | +1.8% |
Recently added youth leader salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Ohio | Youth Leader-Deaf School | Columbus, OH | 06/29/2025 | $45,142 |
| Kansascityymca | Y Club Youth Development Leader | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $29,218 |
| YMCA Kansas City | Y Club Youth Development Leader | Overland Park, KS | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| YMCA Kansas City | Y Club Youth Development Leader | Kansas City, MO | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| YMCA of Greater Kansas City | Y Club Youth Development Leader | Summit, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $29,218 |
| YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester | Youth Development Leader | Fine, NY | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| YMCA of Western North Carolina | Youth Development Attendant Lead | Hendersonville, NC | 06/24/2025 | $29,176 |
| Linn County | Youth Leader | Centerville, IA | 06/20/2025 | $46,102 |
| Family YMCA of Greater Augusta | Youth Sports Lead-Steiner | Grovetown, GA | 06/13/2025 | $20,870 |
| Think Together | Older Youth Leader | Hemet, CA | 06/10/2025 | $44,871 |
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