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The differences between activities aides and activities/volunteers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an activities aide and an activities/volunteer. Additionally, an activities/volunteer has an average salary of $32,875, which is higher than the $27,892 average annual salary of an activities aide.
The top three skills for an activities aide include patients, rehabilitation and PET. The most important skills for an activities/volunteer are community resources, senior care, and financial statements.
| Activities Aide | Activities/Volunteer | |
| Yearly salary | $27,892 | $32,875 |
| Hourly rate | $13.41 | $15.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 41,842 | 4,126 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An activity aide is responsible for facilitating recreation activities under the supervision of a recreation leader within nursing homes or other related institutions. Activity aides ensure the adequacy of resources and supplies according to the activity's instructions and budget limitations. They also reiterate the safety protocols and guidelines to the participants, as well as conducting inspections of the facilities to prevent potential hazards. An activity aide must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports and escalating concerns for immediate resolution.
An activity volunteer is responsible for supporting community activities for the benefit of the citizens and social development in general. Activity volunteers assist in fundraising activities, coordinating with other organizations for sponsorship, recruiting target audience, planning the program outline, and releasing promotional materials, press releases, and media marketing. Activity volunteers must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on negotiating with suppliers and vendors for the activity materials with minimal costs. They should also be able to address the participants' inquiries and concerns and resolve any issues that may arise during the activity preparation.
Activities aides and activities/volunteers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activities Aide | Activities/Volunteer | |
| Average salary | $27,892 | $32,875 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $35,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Guilderland, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an activities aide and an activities/volunteer in terms of educational background:
| Activities Aide | Activities/Volunteer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Duke University |
Here are the differences between activities aides' and activities/volunteers' demographics:
| Activities Aide | Activities/Volunteer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |