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The differences between activity assistants and community living assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an activity assistant and a community living assistant. Additionally, a community living assistant has an average salary of $30,317, 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 a community living assistant are medication reminders, quality care, and patients.
| Activity Assistant | Community Living Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $30,317 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $14.58 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 72,067 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
Community living assistants provide fundamental health care and assist patients with daily living activities. They apply practical intervention procedures for behavioral issues as well. It is their job to lessen discomfort and preserve patient dignity while performing duties like bathing. Also, they support housing administration through equipment maintenance, staff contractors, and expense monitoring.
Activity assistants and community living assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Community Living Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $30,317 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $22,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | West Windsor, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Maine | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | American Senior Benefits |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and a community living assistant in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Community Living Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and community living assistants' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Community Living Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 23.0% Female, 77.0% |
| 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, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |