Camp Counselor: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.
The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.
10% of camp counselors earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $27,600
- Hourly
- $13.27
- Source
- BLS May 2025
25% of camp counselors earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $31,780
- Hourly
- $15.28
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Half of camp counselors earn more than this and half earn less.
- Annual
- $36,560
- Hourly
- $17.58
- Source
- BLS May 2025
75% of camp counselors earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $43,470
- Hourly
- $20.90
- Source
- BLS May 2025
90% of camp counselors earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $50,410
- Hourly
- $24.24
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Camp Counselors conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. The median pay is $36,560 a year ($17.58 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a bachelor's degree (62% of workers surveyed by O*NET).
- Median pay
- $36,560
- BLS May 2025
- Employed in the U.S.
- 331,490
- BLS May 2025
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- considerable preparation
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree
- 62% of workers
Data Government data groups this job as Recreation Workers (O*NET-SOC 39-9032.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.
Camp Counselors at a glance
Recreation workers in the United States earned a median annual wage of $36,560 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
In its 2025–35 employment projections, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for recreation workers in the United States.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
BLS projects employment of recreation workers in the United States to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 67,000 openings a year on average, including replacement openings.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
BLS estimates that less than 0.5% of recreation workers in the United States had the ability to telework in 2025, a preliminary estimate of whether the job allows it, not a count of remote jobs.
Source: BLS Occupational Requirements Survey, 2025 preliminary
Every page for Camp Counselors
What camp counselors do day to day
Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
Ranked by importance to the job
Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.
Knowledge areas: English Language, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Law and Government, Psychology.
Software camp counselors use
Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.
- AppletreeComputer based training software
- Microsoft PublisherDesktop publishing software
- YouTubeVideo creation and editing software
- Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareIn demand
- Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareHot technology
- Microsoft OutlookElectronic mail softwareHot technology
- Microsoft PowerPointPresentation softwareHot technology
- Microsoft WindowsOperating system softwareHot technology
- Microsoft WordWord processing softwareHot technology
- Corel WordPerfect Office SuiteOffice suite software
- Database softwareData base user interface and query software
- GroupMeInstant messaging software
Also called: Activities Assistant, Activities Director, Activity Aide, Activity Assistant, Activity Coordinator, Activity Director.
How this page is built
Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the cosine similarity of the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level and subtract the average across all occupations, then compare the direction of the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 means unrelated or opposite (negative values are shown as 0). Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.
- How a specific employer defines the job.
- Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
- Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.