Comprehensive compensation data provides park and recreation agency leaders with guidance on how to attract the best candidates for their staff. This data also can provide park and recreation professionals with insights into salary and benefits offered by potential employers. To gather that data, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) research team sent a 43-question survey in March 2023 to produce the salary data of 13 positions at park and recreation agencies and general information about benefits and salary policies. The responses from leaders of more than 400 park and recreation agencies across the United States are the basis of this report.

The 2023 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey Report features detailed base salary and bonus data for 13 typical park and recreation agency positions:

• Park and Recreation Agency Director (or Executive Director or Superintendent)
• Planning Director (or Superintendent)
• Director of Finance (or Administrative Director or Business Manager)
• Recreation Director (or Recreation Superintendent or Assistant Director — Recreation)
• Park Operations Director (or Maintenance Director or Maintenance Superintendent)
• Park Operations (or Maintenance Foreman)
• Facilities Manager
• Athletics Supervisor (or Athletics Manager)
• Aquatics Supervisor (or Aquatics Manager)
• Recreation Programs Coordinator (or Recreations Programs Manager)
• Marketing and Communications Director (or Manager) *New position to this report in 2023
• Fitness Center Manager *New position to this report in 2023
• Administrative Assistant *New position to this report in 2023

Summarized Salary Survey Report