Golf Business News – Golf Course Director enjoys 10% salary in the past two years
The latest findings from the Biennial Pay and Benefits Report by the Association of Golf Course Directors show that the average annual salary of U.S. golf course directors has risen to $121,238.
In the 2023 report, the figures for 2025 increased by $109,621 compared to the average salary of $109,621, an increase in trend every two years since the GCSAA began tracking data in 1993.
The top-recognized golf course principal through education, experience and service received 7.4% recognition in 2023. Their average salary rose to $138,303.
Assistant Director and golf course equipment managers also saw revenue increase. Assistant salary rose 10.5% to $62,184, and equipment managers' salary increased 12.5% from the average salary two years ago to $68,154.
Salaries for golf course management majors have risen above the national average, which has increased by 8.1% over the past two years (4.3% in 2023 and 3.8% in 2024), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The golf course principals and their teams are highly skilled professionals,” said Rhett Evans, CEO of GCSAA. “They play a crucial role in the success of golf facilities, and golf course owners are increasingly aware of this and are investing in them accordingly.”
The report also outlines the configuration files for GCSAA supervisors and their operations. The average age of the director is 47 years old, and the average number of years they spend in the industry is 16 years old. The average number of years the director spends in his current position is less than 10 years old.
Survey participants have free access to the full report, while others can purchase the report by visiting gcsaa.org/career/compensation-report.
