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The differences between activities directors and day camp counselors 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 director and a day camp counselor. Additionally, an activities director has an average salary of $44,982, which is higher than the $29,384 average annual salary of a day camp counselor.
The top three skills for an activities director include patients, rehabilitation and resident care. The most important skills for a day camp counselor are CPR, kids, and cleanliness.
| Activities Director | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,982 | $29,384 |
| Hourly rate | $21.63 | $14.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,845 | 32,895 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An activities director is responsible for planning engaging events for the participants, considering individual interests and the safety of procedures and resources. Activities directors guide the activity staff on assisting the participants, ensuring that they are comfortable with joining the activities. Since most activities directors work at a healthcare facility or elderly institution, they must also monitor the health of the participants by conducting therapeutic activities and evaluate the participants' progress for every program. The activities director must be a critical-thinker, as well as have excellent communication skills to coordinate with facilities personnel for successful activity completion.
The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.
Activities directors and day camp counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activities Director | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average salary | $44,982 | $29,384 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $74,000 | Between $19,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Huntington, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | City of Portland |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between an activities director and a day camp counselor in terms of educational background:
| Activities Director | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Duke University |
Here are the differences between activities directors' and day camp counselors' demographics:
| Activities Director | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% | Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |