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The differences between activity assistants and human services 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 human services assistant. Additionally, a human services assistant has an average salary of $29,921, 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 human services assistant are developmental disabilities, patients, and social work.
| Activity Assistant | Human Services Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $29,921 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $14.39 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 158,966 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| 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.
Human service assistants function in a wide array of capacities. Basically, though, they provide services to clients in fields like rehabilitation, social work, or psychology. They provide support in the aforementioned fields for families and other workers. They are tasked with helping clients discover community services or benefits. Working with other professionals, they develop treatment plans, carry out research services to aid clients, and help clients with necessary paperwork.
Activity assistants and human services assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Human Services Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $29,921 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $19,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | ICF |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and a human services assistant in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Human Services Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and human services assistants' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Human Services Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 24.2% Female, 75.8% |
| 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, 16.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.9% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |