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The differences between activity assistants and program 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 program assistant. Additionally, a program assistant has an average salary of $35,193, 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 program assistant are patients, customer service, and data entry.
| Activity Assistant | Program Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $35,193 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $16.92 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 96,901 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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.
Program assistants are usually entry-level or junior employees assigned to a department that handles a specific program in the organization. They assist the team they are assigned to in the implementation of the programs. They usually take care of administrative or clerical activities while also getting exposure to actual program management. Program assistants get trained to handle agendas from inception, to sourcing, to implementation, to evaluation. They may also handle documentary support for business cases or other presentation materials that the team may need for a specific part of the program management cycle.
Activity assistants and program assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Program Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $35,193 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $27,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | The Aspen Institute |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and a program assistant in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Program Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and program assistants' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Program Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2% |
| 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, 13.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.7% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |