What are typical activities director salaries?

Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

In Michigan, most activity directors start off around 11.00 and hour.
As far as skills to increase your salary, organizational, an ability to have fun, and most importantly, keeping your residents happy! Hope this helps!

I have been an Activity Director for almost 4ys now.I do everything to do this job with little help. I only make $9.92 I feel I am very much underpaid, but how do you get more if they only give you a 3% raise once a year.

You may want to try doing a couple searches on the Indeed Salary Search tool to get a better feel for average salaries. Here is one I did to help get you started: www.indeed.com/salary?q1=Activities+Director&l1=&tm=1

Emma (Host) said: You may want to try doing a couple searches on the Indeed Salary Search tool to get a better feel for average salaries. Here is one I did to help get you started: www.indeed.com/salary?q1=Activities+Director&l1=&tm=1

Thanks Emma, I am not in a city or state that pays alot even thought I work hard at my job and love it. Maybe I will move to VA they pay good seems like :)

I haved worked in the field for over 10 years and I've had a good salary. The last time I worked in a long term care facility was 2 years ago. My salary then was between $16-$17 an hour. The least I've made back in 1996 was about $10.00. I've always asked for what I wanted or more and they always negotiated with me.

I was living in Kansas City Mo back then and I also worked in the Kansas area also. Louisiana doesn't pay as well but I was able to get around $12.00 hour.

I am getting paid $15 an hour and I am in the bay area in California. We dont have a lot of staff and we are an independent community. I suppose I am very fortunate.

I work for a time share in Williamsburg VA, I am the only one on staff, so I don't get any help. I get $11 an hour

I was hired with no education, on the job training two years ago and made about $10 an hour but did a lot of volunteer time as well ... I mainly cooridinated volunteers to help because we were not staffed in such a way that allowed many of our PCAs to help.
In NJ, at least in a nursing care facility my mother volunteers at, an Activity Director makes about twice that much with about 5 full time and 2 part time assistants are paid on average about the same as I made doing it all myself. It's all according to where you live it seems when it comes to salaries.

I am activity assistant but I have director activity certificate and they gave me 16/hr. But Im doing everything for my boss

I make $11. I plan everything and do all the activities for a resort, including the paper work. A friend of mine who works at another resort in the same area make $13hr. She over sees other activity personel in addtion to proforming activity duties and paper work.

Everyone should try working at larger communities. In some CCRC's (Continuing care retirement communities) the Activity Director makes about 50,000 a year. even more with degree and experience.

I live in maryland and I just become a activity director in 2007. I have act assisted experience and my first activity directorbpodtion payed me $19.00 a hour so mybe it might depends on where you live.

I make 15.50 an hour as an activities director for an assisted living. This is due to a bachelor's degree in Family Science, as well as volunteering for assisted living facilities in the past. The job is extremely fulfilling and rewarding!

I was hired yesterday, Jan. 20, 2008 for a activity director position and was offered $11. I have a bachelors degree (just graduated college, not much real job experience) but not in anything to do with the job. I did some volutneer work but not much, is this a fair wage with the way the economy is and that I live in GA?

Jenna,
it's up to you whether or not you accept a position according to what is being offered to you in way of a salary.
I think about teachers, social workers, etc. and must admit most of them don't receive anywhere near what they deserve or would be considered "fair" if compared to what others who are more valuable in our society get paid.
ie: doctors, lawyers, politicians
What is "fair?" who can say?
what matters most is that you are really happy with what you are doing and value the people you serve. If you do what you do because you LOVE what you DO then salary won't be your bottom line condition.
Otherwise you might want to consider continuing your education and going into medicine. Nurses and technicians working in the medical field are most highly paid professionals.
there is no money in education unless you are a supervisor and the same applies to assisted living or nursing homes when it comes to being an activity director.
Up north, in NYC, NJ, Pa. and Maryland activity directors are paid quite a bit more..but then again so are teachers, carpenters, brick masons, etc.
I think the word we might be looking for here is "UNION"

I am an activities director, and I have been doing this profession for 3 months now. I have a bachelor's degree in human development and family science with two years of volunteering experience. I make $15.50 an hour. I believe the social service experience has helped with negotiating a higher salary.

I have worked in the field for about 5 1/2 years and love it! I started out making 10.00/hr. with no experience and am now an Activities Director at a LTC facility and I am making 38,000. I still feel that my experience and dedication are worth more but I don't do the job for the money. I am considering moving a little further down south, VA to make some more money and have more opportunities. Anyone have any advice on that?

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

OK JUST SO ALL OF YOU KNOW YOUR SALARY DEPENDS ON THE CENSUS OF YOUR BUILDING AND YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE YOUR RESIDENTS HAPPY, (PLUS IN OUR BUSINESS ITS WHO YOU KNOW) I began as a volunteer in a SNF when I was 13 and took such a love to being with seniors that after highschool I applied for an assistant job in a 320 snf alz al & il BIG JOB FOR THE FIRST ONE but now serval companies later and about 14years later I am making 22.00 hr yes I am still hourly :) Southern California ... any questions feel free to email me :)

I was making 15$ an hour at this facility at a SNF .I was one Activity Director and had a boss,She was a Director of Activities .There was 2 part time ladies.

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Its nice to be creative, and if you're in a spanish speaking neighborhood, leaning another language is great too. Being certified in anything, even CPR looks good on a resume. I made almost $50,000 a year in a skilled nursing home. BUT assisted living is cheaper. Independent can pay well too depending where. Corporations tend to have more money than mom and pop places.

If a building seems in trouble when you go in for your interiview? Like, the administrator tells you the last director was let go 2 months ago or you may have some issues with a difficult staff, you basically just increased your yearly salary asking amount by $10,000 because they are desperate to get someone in that position. Ask when the state is due back. if soon? You can add another few thousand! There are SO many tricks I've learned through the years. The best thing to know is this...there are NOT many people in the field anymore. You CAN make at LEAST $20. an hour if you live near a big city and have some good experience under your belt. Don't expect to make much if youre right out of school. Certified? You can basically ask any amount you want. I've gotten up in the $20's per HOUR and its great.

I've worked with seniors since my sophomore year in high school, graduated with my Bachelor's with tons of relevant coursework, have volunteered in several ILF, ALF & nursing homes along with fundraising over the years and built a 12-year resume geared towards working interpersonally with the elderly. Jumping into an activity director position about two years ago in an ALF, I started at about $12/hr. With census holding steady, I have earned two full time activity assistants, my company is paying for my national certification and am making about $14.50/hr. Let's face it - we don't do this job for the money but for impact we have on the elderly's lives! And even more, there IS advancement opportunity in this field. You can become Activity Consultant Certified and help other communities establish a successful activities program. With the baby boomers aging, new facilities should be popping up all over the place, needing experienced folks to help jump start and monitor their programming. Good luck!

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Take a Social Services Designee Cert. class, u can find them through a vendor or some community colleges. Admin. like to see a SSD Cert. on your resume because it shows you have advanced case management skills and behavioral tracking and intervention training.

debi johnson in Aledo, Illinois said: I have been an Activity Director for almost 4ys now.I do everything to do this job with little help. I only make $9.92 I feel I am very much underpaid, but how do you get more if they only give you a 3% raise once a year.

Show your employer a copy of current AD salaries relating to the type of facility you are employed with and the area. Present your own QA report relating to all your accomplishments and successful programming you have implemented. The lowest wage I know of is $12.00 per hour. Yes u are way under paid and your Admin. should be ashamed of them selfs. Or you coild ask to reduce your duties to match your curreny pay!!! And start looking for another job!!!!!!

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

$18.00 - $20 per hour but it is usally in and exempt salary basis of 52 weeks.

What are key questions I should ask in an interview for a AD position. Does anyone know the pay for an AD in NC? I was told $10.00 per hour. That seems really really low considering all the work involved. (No matter how much you like it just for the love of it.) I am qualified through the state. CPR/First Aid and Defib. Cert. I have also taken various courses on aging, activities, and anything I could to improve the quality of my work.

I live in south Florida, and I currently make 20.00 per hour as an activity director. I am not certified, although I have been working as a director for 14 years. I started in Mississippi, in 1995, and made 10.00 per hour. My facility has 120 beds, and has a heavy medicare turnaround.

Lisa - I believe your pay is great and well deserved. Sad to say that most facilities do not recognize all the hard work that goes into this job. Good for you. Your facility recognizes and compenstates your hard work for their residents! Wonderful. Thanks for the response.

It seems to me this conversation has been kept alive by folks who are serious
about your work as Activity Directors.
I'm now "marketing" and must say it's obvious ..
never mind.
Today while at work for the second time within a month I was able to help save
a resident's life.
Not because I am being paid any more than the staff who were as much concerned
as I'd been about her life had been part of it all.
Each of us were focused on the person who's life we were there to not only save
but to make sure will amount to more than mere rhetoric in the end.
Idealism is one thing. Living out our ideal is quite something else.
By God's Good Grace we are all going to overcome whatever evil thing would
otherwise prevent us in the end from accomplishing our highest goal.
Get up and onto the road less travelled.
It's up to YOU whether or not you "win" or "lose" in the end..
what reward means most to us?
are we more concerned about the golden rule or a rule of gold?
always, in every age, our choice.
we humans have been given the gift of free will.
"two men look up from behind the same bars
One sees mud, the other sees stars."
The people we serve are a gift to us. Whether we make $10 an hour
or volunteer? they should matter more to us than anything else
in the world when it comes down to "money"
Anyone who has been a real parent will let you know
what matters most :)

Your point is well taken but I also volunteer as well. If I can provide more financial support to my family by working a job I am guarenteed to make 15 -17 per hour, my family comes first. I am a great volunteer and can share my creative talents, time, and resources and still be a blessing to the residents. My husband has been out of work for 2 years and we have 6 children. 4 are still in the home. Money really does matter in my case. In order to know what job will best serve your family financially this is important. When my husband returns to work 'money' will not be such an issue. My volunteering shows you how much heart I have for local residents in facilities. Thanks for your response.

tina p in West Monroe, Louisiana said: I haved worked in the field for over 10 years and I've had a good salary. The last time I worked in a long term care facility was 2 years ago. My salary then was between $16-$17 an hour. The least I've made back in 1996 was about $10.00. I've always asked for what I wanted or more and they always negotiated with me.

I live in Lake Charles, LA. Looking to become certified but don't know who around here does training. do you know anything about this. You can email me wsabrinak@gmail.com Thank you, hope to hear from you very soon.

I work in a Assisted Living Community that has 75 beds and is private pay. I currently have over 17 years experience and am working as an exempt employee for 45K a year. The benefits are not as strong and the pay is about four percent less than I used to earn at a much larger non for proft facility that I used to work at for over 13 years, though I love my job and needed to relocate. I have an AA degree and want to move on to become an administrator. I can't see myself doing this past 50.

People that have the aptitude for this kind of job can find out all the information needed to become certified on-line.

I want to be a certificate activities director but i dont no what place to go here in massachusetts if any one knows please let me know

I am looking to get into the Activites director or recrational therapy field. When researching they appear to be a little different, but similar. What type of school does each require, and how long of a program are they. Does anyone out there have knowledge and time to provide this info to me, that would be very helpful. I am also looking into Physical Therapy Assistant, but not many programs available and two-year college, it looks more difficult to study than the others because of anatomy, psyology, etc. thanks

i have been currently employed as an part time activity director how much should start out pay be??

Look at salary.com and follow the instructions. Good luck in your new endeavor.

BH

Texas pays more $ for any field . Activities Directors can make 20$ an hr. They will start you @ least 12$ an hour. assistants make 9-10$ an hr I guess. I was working @ this SNF that started me @ 12$ hourly w/benefits.

judy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: Its nice to be creative, and if you're in a spanish speaking neighborhood, leaning another language is great too. Being certified in anything, even CPR looks good on a resume. I made almost $50,000 a year in a skilled nursing home. BUT assisted living is cheaper. Independent can pay well too depending where. Corporations tend to have more money than mom and pop places.

I useto live in California. Well, that's where I'm from . Moved to Texas 7 years ago w/my husband & kids. I found out that Texas pays more $$$$ out in CA. I was making 7.50$ as an Assistant. The Directors w/ a Batcholers degree start off @ $12 here $12 is the lowest they will pay w/no experiance. As a an assistant when I first started working here I was making $12 hourly.

cindy brooke in Raleigh, North Carolina said: I live in maryland and I just become a activity director in 2007. I have act assisted experience and my first activity directorbpodtion payed me $19.00 a hour so mybe it might depends on where you live.

I am looking to move from New Jersey to Maryland, and want Activities Director position. Where in Maryland do you live?

Karen in Raleigh, North Carolina said: It seems to me this conversation has been kept alive by folks who are serious
about your work as Activity Directors.
I'm now "marketing" and must say it's obvious ..
never mind.
Today while at work for the second time within a month I was able to help save
a resident's life.
Not because I am being paid any more than the staff who were as much concerned
as I'd been about her life had been part of it all.
Each of us were focused on the person who's life we were there to not only save
but to make sure will amount to more than mere rhetoric in the end.
Idealism is one thing. Living out our ideal is quite something else.
By God's Good Grace we are all going to overcome whatever evil thing would
otherwise prevent us in the end from accomplishing our highest goal.
Get up and onto the road less travelled.
It's up to YOU whether or not you "win" or "lose" in the end..
what reward means most to us?
are we more concerned about the golden rule or a rule of gold?
always, in every age, our choice.
we humans have been given the gift of free will.
"two men look up from behind the same bars
One sees mud, the other sees stars."
The people we serve are a gift to us. Whether we make $10 an hour
or volunteer? they should matter more to us than anything else
in the world when it comes down to "money"
Anyone who has been a real parent will let you know
what matters most :)

What you say doesn't answer the question about salary for Activities Director, but I do appreciate your devotion to the job and God Bless!

Your heart is in the right place, but if you have the time to work for FREE then more power to you! When you have a family to raise and feed and have bills to pay, Then I won't even think of working for free. Everyone wants to earn more money to be able to live and take care of their family . well working for free isn't helping anyone in this Forum ...

where can i find trainning here in my area? i have some trainning but need more, can not afford college right now.

Call your local community college. It does not cost much. Under $100.00.

Hello everyone,

I need your help...I have over 10 years of Administrative experience. I currently work for the Director of Neurosurgery at Duke (in Durham) and have been offered an interview closer to my home in Raleigh as an Activity Assistant at a retirement home. How much does it pay. I make over 14.00 an hour. Will I be able to get this much or would it be an dumb request??

Thanks!

Nope. You will be lucky to get 12.00 per hour but go anyway and see what they offer you! Wish I had better news. In NC even the very very best is WAY underpaid! I know I am! NC is paid 15% lower than in other states. Go figure.

No way! $10-12 an hour only. I wouldn't go as low as an Activity Assistant with your years of working in Administration.

Hey to answer your comment about activity director wage. I started off at $15/hr.

Hey guys...Thanks so much for your assistance!!! I decided to cancel my interview b/c again it is for an ASSISTANT activity director not the DIRECTOR so I am looking at making less money than I do now.

You guys are great! Thanks for the advice!!!