Pay Rates

[CAMPFRIEND]

Ok. I know that camp counselors do not make all that much money. But as a director I am trying to keep competitive with other camps. For my day camp counselors make between $6.50 - $9.00 per hour. For my head counselors $8.00-$10.00 per hour. And for my directors $9.00-$12.00 per hour. All of the staff get $.25-$.75 raise per year based on work level the summer before. When I worked at overnight camp my staff were salary and mad a bit less money. $150-$200 per week for counselors. Ad staff made between $175-$300 pending their position.

If you could give me an idea of what your camp pays that would be great!

[Skater Bubbles]

Well I might not be of much help because I am at an overnight camp, but we get payed $200 a week.

[camper]

we go by a pay scale based on age and what job you have at camp. jc's (going into senior year in high school) make a base of 400 for the summer but b/c of bonuses for working at a specialty area, having younger kids, or being at camp the summer before as ca's they end up making 600-650. the summer after that it goes up to 700 base i think, and the next summer up to 1000 base. after that, contracts are usually negotiated b/c the person is taking on more responsibility at camp. i think a college graduate makes like a 1700 base but i'm not sure.

[rockinsmiles]

I'm not exactly sure how the pay increases with years but I know last year a first year counselor (who were not international because pay is decided by CCUSA for them) made around 187 dollars a week. Thats overnight camp. i know the camp nurse made more and returning staff did as well (though the increase actually decreases with the years).

[Dave]

We don't make money/hour. We have set salaries. First-year counselors (counselor assistants) make $300 for the summer (8 weeks). Two-year counselors (junior counselors) make $600 for the summer. And senior counselors make $1200 for the summer. I'm not sure if it keeps doubling or if it stops at $1200, but that's the basic pay scale. If you're a bus counselor you make an additional $400. If you have perfect attendence you get a $50 bonus. Plus there are tips at our camp. That's usually no less than $100, depending on the bunk (and the parents).

[speedx5xracer]

precamp 210/week for normal camp $1500 + completion bonus for the entire summer.. Im looking at about 2700 over all this comming summer.

[CAMPFRIEND]

That gives me some ideas.. I wish I could pay a set amount per week..

[Flukie]

We're also overnight, but our day camp staff make pretty much the same rates as overnight (yeah, figure that one out - we haven't yet!). Starting salary is about $200 a week so first year couneslor would make about $1600-$1800 depending on prior experience.

[Indigo]

We get a set amount either per week or per summer, depending on our position, age, experience, etc. It's usually around $2000 per summer for the majority of the staff (less for jr. staff, more for people over 21, ad staff, etc.).

[Lilly]

I, too, work at an overnight camp. Unit leaders make $310 a week and Unit Assistants $274.

[lilg]

Campfriend. You may want to do a thorough search of you states labor laws. Here in Illinois we are able to pay our staff a stipend because we are a non-profit day camp. I can give you the link to the statute if you wish. Minimum wage laws go beyond just the state minimum, you just may have to do an exhaustive search.

As far as my staff wages go here it is:

Assistant directors - Up to $4750
Unit Leaders - Up to $3400
Program Specialists - Up to $3050
Counselors - $2525-2875
Wizard (High School kid to clean and perform various other tasks) - $1950


This will be the first year that we will also be making housing available to out-of-town staff so the salaries may be adjusted somewhat to account for the housing and meals.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I know that each state is different. I am getting my staff from Atlanta area. I just fun to see what others pay!

[daisy]

my first summer i made $135 a week base plus $10 for being a lifeguard... this past summer was my 3rd and i was at $195 base plus $10 for lifeguard and $10 for being a unit leader.

[Dave]

This year I'm going to try and be a bus counselor so I can make an extra $400. If I do take that job I'll be making $1600 for the summer.

[collissimon]

I don't know per week, cos I get a lump sum at the end... I got 795 my first summer, but that was after so much had been taken off my sponsor. It goes up by $400 each year, and Deputies get $200 more, but I don't know beyond that!

[code3cadet]

I make about $1900 a summer. but the kids pay about 3000 for two weeks of camp.