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The differences between activity assistants and family service 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 family service assistant. Additionally, a family service assistant has an average salary of $33,090, 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 family service assistant are social work, child care, and community resources.
| Activity Assistant | Family Service Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $33,090 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $15.91 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 47,477 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
A family service assistant offers practical and emotional support to family service workers in support of families. Family service workers are often assigned to at-risk clients through government or social service agencies. A service assistant assesses these families' needs to identify how to resolve issues. A family service assistant must have good communication skills, be calm under pressure, and be adaptable.
Activity assistants and family service assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Family Service Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $33,090 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $18,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | Mount Sinai Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and a family service assistant in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Family Service Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and family service assistants' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Family Service Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |