Recreation Management - About the Profession

Career Opportunities Graduates of the Recreation Management major find career opportunities as directors, associate directors, assistant directors, associate managers, coordinators, programmers, and specialists in any of the following areas:

  • National, state, county, or city parks and recreation agencies
  • Commercial resort businesses
  • Camping agencies
  • University and intramural recreation
  • Convention centers and visitors bureaus
  • Military MWR recreation (civil service)

Salaries UW-La Crosse recreation management majors earn more than an average high school teacher’s salary. A recreation management major’s salary is equivalent to managerial positions in other service businesses.

  • Entry level positions: $36,000 to $40,000
  • Middle Management positions: $40,000 to $52,000
  • Owner/director positions: $62,000 to $99,000 or more

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Listed below are some of many the professional associations that support the Recreation field.

http://www.iaapa.org/ International Associating of Amusement Parks and Attractions
http://www.rcra.org Resort and Commercial Recreation Association
http://www.ialei.org/ International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry
http://amoa.com/joomla/ Amusement & Music Operators Association
http://www.sba.gov/ United States Small Business Administration
http://www.mnrpa.org/home.html Minnesota Recreation and Park Association
http://www.propaddle.com/ Professional Paddlesports Association
http://agency.travelwisconsin.com/ Wisconsin Department of Tourism
http://www.americaoutdoors.org/ America Outdoors [adventure travel, outfitters, guides, outdoor educators
http://www.bpaa.com/ Bowling Proprietors Association of America
http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/home/ National Ski Areas Association [owners and operators]
http://www.arvc.org/ National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
http://www.hospitalitynet.org/index.html Hospitality Management [hotel]
http://www.ahla.com/index.asp American Hotel & Lodging Association
http://www.arda.org/ American Resort Development Association
http://www.amforht.org/ World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training
http://www.acmenet.org/ Association for Convention Marketing Executives
http://www.acacamps.org/ American Camp Association
http://www.iacvb.org/ International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus
http://www.ngcoa.org/ National Golf Course Owners Association
http://www.waterparks.org/default.asp World Waterpark Association
http://www.napha.org National Amusement Park Historical Association