The 2023 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Salary Survey finds that the median 2022-23 salary increases range from 4.1 percent to 5.7 percent for 13 job titles with each raise up by at least one percent from the previous year.

 
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 160,000 full-time employees of local park and recreation agencies in the United States. This survey helps show the state of the industry.

The survey is for 13 typical park and recreation positions including agency director and park operations director, among others, and this data report includes detailed comparisons based on agency size and demographics. The data was shared by over 400 park and recreation agencies.

"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 survey, 66 percent of agencies offer full-time employees a defined contribution retirement plan such as a 401(k) or 403(b). The data also shows that agencies typically cover 80 percent of their full-time health insurance premiums.