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The differences between activity assistants and activities directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an activity assistant, becoming an activities director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an activities director has an average salary of $44,982, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for an activity assistant include patients, home health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for an activities director are patients, rehabilitation, and resident care.
| Activity Assistant | Activities Director | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $44,982 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $21.63 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 6,845 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Activity assistants are the ones who organize and execute activities in different settings, including recreation centers, camps, cruise ships, and retirement or nursing homes. They design programs to encourage physical activity, increase socialization, deliver continuing education, and provide entertainment. They are also the ones who handle logistics, select and demonstrate activities, maintain proper equipment, and ensure the safety of participants. They can work full-time, part-time, or seasonally in different settings depending on the kind of clients that they cater to.
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.
Activity assistants and activities directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Activities Director | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $44,982 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $27,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Huntington, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and an activities director in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Activities Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and activities directors' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Activities Director | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.0% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |