New NRPA report shares detailed salary information for park and recreation professionals

A new report by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) highlights salary and bonus data for 13 typical park and recreation professional positions, including agency director, planning director, finance director, recreation director and park operations director, among others. The data in the survey report includes detailed comparisons based on agency size, type and certain demographic characteristics of incumbents in the positions (e.g., education, certifications and years in the profession).

Based on data shared by more than 400 park and recreation agencies, the 2023 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey finds:

• Median 2022-2023 salary increases range from 4.1 percent to 5.7 percent for the 13 job titles, with each raise up by at least one percentage point from the prior year.
• Salaries are typically higher for those with greater professional experience, higher education attainment and professional certifications, such as NRPA’s Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) certifications.
• Newly hired park and recreation professionals typically have a median of 10 annual vacation days.
• Park and recreation agencies typically cover 80 percent of their full-time employees’ health insurance premiums.
• Seventy-nine percent of park and recreation agencies offer their full-time employees a defined benefit retirement (pension) plan.
• Sixty-six percent of agencies offer their full-time employees a defined contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k) or 403(b).

“Parks and recreation is a rewarding career thanks to the compensation and benefits agencies offer, as well as the gratifying work these professionals do each day,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “These professionals continually demonstrate the vital role they play in serving their communities, and our hope is that this data will help inform agencies in developing competitive compensation packages to recruit and retain talented staff.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 160,000 full-time employees of local park and recreation agencies in the United States. These individuals provide opportunities for people of all ages to experience the benefits of parks and recreation, including greater access to nature and the outdoors, and health and wellness programs that improve the health of communities overall.

To access all the survey resources, visit nrpa.org/SalarySurvey.  

To learn more about NRPA, visit nrpa.org.

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About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.