Merrimack Valley YMCA logo
Merrimack Valley YMCA
Salem, New Hampshire

Cabin Counselor

CounselorNo weekendsNo nightsSeasonal

Listed compensation

Salary Range: $15.00 /hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, benefits and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

  • Level: Entry
  • Job Location: Camp Otter - Salem, NH 03079
  • Position Type: Seasonal
  • Salary Range: $15.00 - $15.00 Hourly
  • Job Shift: DayPOSITION

Summary

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Camp Director, the Cabin Counselor provides direct supervision to a group of children between the ages of six and thirteen in a traditional day camp program.

The Cabin Counselor will help champion a culture of service excellence and support and advocate the mission and values of the YMCA.

Our Culture

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality.

We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.

All employees are mandated reporters and will adhere to the requirements outlined in the Child Abuse Prevention Policy and Procedures. Per our commitment to a safe environment and youth protection, you must attend the required CAP and Safety/Risk Management Trainings each year.

Key Responsibilities

Essential Functions: Possess mature judgment and sound decision making Ability to observe camper behavior and apply appropriate behavior management techniques Maintain positive relationships with parents, staff, and campers Relate to people in a positive but firm manner while motivating and guiding campers and staff to succeed in the camp program Monitor daily camp operations to adhere to all state, ACA, and YMCA regulations Possess a broad knowledge of camp activities, goals and objectives, risk management, programming planning and implementation techniques that help to create a fun, safe, and educational environment Supervise a cabin of 15 to 25 campers of various genders and ages Maintain safety and cleanliness standards in cabin Conduct attendance at least three times a day Guide and direct the cabin to different programs and activities Assist and participate in different programs and activities Provide a safe environment for campers and staff React calmly and quickly in an emergency situation in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures Respond to environmental and other safety hazards that relate to the camp program Prevent accidents by maintaining constant observation, enforcing health and safety rules, and maintaining emergency rediness Perform an inventory assessment at the beginning and the end of the camp season Job Segments: Assist Camp Director in various areas of pre-camp staff orientation.

Attend Family Nights Lead the entire camp in songs, games, and activities Financial Development: Provides leadership and support of Annual Campaign that results in achievement of our annual fund-raising goal. Other Duties: Perform other duties as assinged by Senior Management.

Effect on End Results: Development and delivery of quality programming that are both consistent with the goals and objectives of Camp Otter, as well as meet the needs and expectations of the camper families enrolled.

Expansion of existing programs through building on traditional camp activities, while developing new program ideas relevant to that week’s theme. Development of quality staff and volunteers that are fully engaged in the camp and provide a safe and rich experience for all program participants.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be at least 16 years of age or older Current state-approved first aid certification Current state-approved CPR/AED certification Previous experience working with children, preferably in a day camp setting Must be highly organized Must complete Merrimack Valley YMCA online Child Abuse Prevention Training within the first two weeks of employment WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Position will include leading programs both indoors and outdoors A typical camp week is Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 5:15 pm There are events (ie.

Family Nights) that require more than a 40-hour work week Ability to lift 50 lbs. Position requires the ability to walk/run around the rough terrain of Camp Otter Able to stand/move without sitting for four to five hours at a time Able to handle all emergency situations that may arise

Key Responsibilities

The Cabin Counselor provides direct supervision to children aged six to thirteen while facilitating safe, engaging, and educational camp activities. They are responsible for maintaining cabin cleanliness, enforcing safety regulations, and supporting the YMCA mission through service excellence.

Requirements

Candidates must be at least 16 years old and possess current state-approved First Aid and CPR/AED certifications. Previous experience working with children in a day camp setting is preferred, along with strong organizational and judgment skills.

Key Skills

Child supervisionSafety complianceProgram planningCommunicationEmergency responseTeamworkMentoring

Youth Development — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 70% are remote, 32% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New Hampshire is 104.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$28k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $27k in an average-cost state. 60.5% of New Hampshire clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.5 / 10 · above average in counselingranked against 13,634 Counseling listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$25k–$31kCounselor median $64k (middle half $53k–$80k)258 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$27k in purchasing powerNew Hampshire index 104.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Counselor listings in New Hampshire84 active13,734 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 70% remote · 32% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Counselor pay trend+2.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (13,634 Counseling listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Cabin Counselor at MERRIMACK VALLEY YMCA a 6.5 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Counseling — ranked against 13,634 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Location & Logistics

New Hampshire has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$28k midpoint, that is roughly $1k–$2k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 13 employers
8
<$90k
2
$90k-105k
10
$105k-120k
14
$120k-135k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
97%
Sign-on bonus
37%
CME allowance
13%
Loan repayment
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Dental Therapist

InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon

From $155k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

LifeStance Health · Nashua, New Hampshire

$95k-$130k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$126k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.5
Better work-life than 60% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,634 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
Merrimack Valley YMCA logo

About Merrimack Valley YMCA

Non-profit Organizations
Lawrence, MA
51-200 employees

Living in Salem

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$604k
Typical market rent
$2,619/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.