Park and Recreation Compensation Data You Can Trust

Built exclusively for the park district and special recreation industry, this compensation survey delivers reliable, actionable benchmarking data to help agencies stay competitive, equitable, and informed.

The 2026 Park & Recreation Compensation Survey features benchmarking data for 84 positions spanning Administrative Services, Education, Facilities, Human Resources, Finance, IT, Marketing/Membership, Parks, Recreation, Food & Beverage/Concessions, and Rentals. With participation from 121 cooperating agencies and data representing 19,171 employees, this report offers one of the most robust compensation snapshots available for our industry. Data is segmented by agency budget, Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV), and geographic area, making it easy to compare your organization to peer agencies. 

Get Your Copy of the 2026 Report 

Purchase a copy of the report and gain access to critical insights that support compensation planning, budgeting, and talent retention.

Participate in the 2027 Survey – Free and Valuable 

The 2027 Compensation Survey launches in August, and participation is completely free. All park districts and special recreation agencies are encouraged to participate. 

Why participate? 

• Receive a free copy of the full results.
• Gain access to trusted compensation insights. 
• Help strengthen industry-wide benchmarking. 

Participation requires a unique web link. To be included, email your contact information (name, email address, job title, and agency) to [email protected] or call 800‑448‑4584.

Contribute your data. Strengthen the industry. Get the insights you need.