Parks & Recreation Management
What Parks & Recreation Management Graduates Do
Your career often begins outdoors, working directly with the landscapes communities enjoy. As a groundskeeping worker, you'll spend your days operating mowers and trimmers, maintaining irrigation systems, and ensuring parks and sports fields are pristine. This hands-on experience is your foundation. From there, you can advance to a first-line supervisor, leading your own crew and coordinating daily tasks.
With experience, your focus shifts to the big picture. As a Facilities or Recreation Manager, you’ll manage staff, schedule large-scale maintenance, inspect playground equipment for safety, and plan community events from summer concert series to youth sports leagues. These management paths are in high demand, with some growing particularly fast. Your starting salary will grow substantially as you take on these leadership responsibilities, with experienced managers often earning six-figure incomes. While AI tools may help with scheduling or design, the core of your job—managing physical spaces and leading people on the ground—remains a hands-on, human-centric career.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Parks & Recreation Management. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Greenskeeper Ii
RAPIDS 934 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $35K – $38,090 – $46K | 3.6% |
|
Greenskeeper Ii
RAPIDS 0934CB |
Competency | Competency | $35K – $38,090 – $46K | 3.6% |
|
Landscape Gardener
RAPIDS 271 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $35K – $38,090 – $46K | 3.6% |
|
Landscape Management Technician
RAPIDS 574 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $35K – $38,090 – $46K | 3.6% |
|
Landscape Technician
RAPIDS 571 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $35K – $38,090 – $46K | 3.6% |
|
Operations Management
RAPIDS 2060HY |
4318-4820 hrs | Hybrid | $67K – $102,950 – $164K | 4.4% |
|
Operations Management (General And Operations Managers)
RAPIDS 2060CB |
Competency | Competency | $67K – $102,950 – $164K | 4.4% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Parks & Recreation Management
2 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional Golfers Career College Temecula, CA |
57 52–58 |
$30,064/yr | 10.1x |
| 2 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL |
55 51–56 |
$29,471/yr | 6.0x |
Highest Earning Parks & Recreation Management Programs
Schools where Parks & Recreation Management graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Golfers Career College | $30,064/yr | 57 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | $29,471/yr | 55 |
Best ROI for Parks & Recreation Management
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Parks & Recreation Management.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Golfers Career College | 10.1x | $30,064/yr | 57 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 6.0x | $29,471/yr | 55 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Parks & Recreation Management degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.