What Does an Activities Coordinator Do?
A calendar alone isn't likely to get residents out of their rooms if nothing on it appeals to them, but in a well-run home a good activities coordinator can be what gets people talking, moving and laughing again. That's because residents are more than just their care plans. Activities coordinators plan and lead programs in senior living communities, community centers, camps and campuses.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Activities Assistant, Activities Director, Activity Aide, Activity Assistant, Activity Coordinator, Activity Director, Recreation Assistant, Recreation Coordinator.
Activities Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an activities coordinator include:
- Plan a monthly calendar of games, crafts, music, exercise and outings.
- Lead group activities and adapt them for people with limited mobility, hearing or memory.
- Visit residents who stay in their rooms and offer individual activities they enjoy.
- Arrange outings, including transportation, tickets and extra staff or volunteers.
- Record participation and responses in each resident's care notes.
- Book entertainers, speakers and community groups for special events.
- Order craft supplies, games and equipment within a small budget.
- Celebrate birthdays, holidays and cultural events that matter to participants.
- Ask participants and families for ideas and adjust the program to match.
- Supervise activity aides and volunteers and show them how to run sessions safely.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an activities coordinator, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Energy and warmth with groups
- Adapting activities for dementia and physical limits
- Calendar planning and budgeting
- Leading music, arts, fitness or games
- Care-plan documentation
- First aid and CPR
- Activity Director Certified (ADC) credential in senior care, a plus
- Patience and a sense of humor
Education and Training
Nursing homes often require an approved activity course, but a high school diploma and training at work cover the rest. Jobs as an activity aide, camp counselor or nursing assistant give you practice at running programs before you plan your own.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $31,780 - $43,470 per year, with a median of $36,560.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Recreation Workers.
Employment of recreation workers is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to BLS. The wider group, which includes camp and park staff, expects about 67,000 openings a year, many of them part time. Senior living is a steady corner of that market, given that the number of older Americans keeps rising.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Recreation workers.
Activities Coordinator Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $27,600 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $31,780 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $36,560 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $43,470 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $50,410 |
Highest-Paying States for Activities Coordinators
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($46,460), Washington ($44,890), South Dakota ($42,270), Hawaii ($41,000), California ($39,780). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($28,360), Mississippi ($28,060), Arkansas ($27,770).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,360 |
| Alaska | $37,510 |
| Arizona | $35,800 |
| Arkansas | $27,770 |
| California | $39,780 |
| Colorado | $38,820 |
| Connecticut | $36,610 |
| Delaware | $33,790 |
| District of Columbia | $46,460 |
| Florida | $35,490 |
| Georgia | $32,540 |
| Hawaii | $41,000 |
| Idaho | $30,100 |
| Illinois | $35,480 |
| Indiana | $30,190 |
| Iowa | $33,700 |
| Kansas | $31,760 |
| Kentucky | $32,400 |
| Louisiana | $28,580 |
| Maine | $37,450 |
| Maryland | $37,200 |
| Massachusetts | $38,540 |
| Michigan | $35,090 |
| Minnesota | $37,510 |
| Mississippi | $28,060 |
| Missouri | $34,320 |
| Montana | $35,090 |
| Nebraska | $34,590 |
| Nevada | $30,150 |
| New Hampshire | $37,040 |
| New Jersey | $36,880 |
| New Mexico | $31,900 |
| New York | $38,040 |
| North Carolina | $32,720 |
| North Dakota | $37,310 |
| Ohio | $32,420 |
| Oklahoma | $31,580 |
| Oregon | $39,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,710 |
| Rhode Island | $36,340 |
| South Carolina | $31,420 |
| South Dakota | $42,270 |
| Tennessee | $33,580 |
| Texas | $32,720 |
| Utah | $32,890 |
| Vermont | $37,450 |
| Virginia | $36,120 |
| Washington | $44,890 |
| West Virginia | $29,710 |
| Wisconsin | $35,530 |
| Wyoming | $30,720 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as recreation workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 84% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 75% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 65% are on the phone every day
- 51% use email every day
- 44% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
- 44% have a lot of freedom to make decisions
- 40% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 62% |
| High school diploma or GED | 25% |
| Associate's degree | 8% |
Tools and Software Activities Coordinators Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy helping, teaching or caring for people as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Law and Government.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 39-9032.00 (Recreation Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.