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The differences between activity assistants and youth 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 youth assistant. Additionally, a youth assistant has an average salary of $30,242, 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 youth assistant are child guidance, CPR, and community services.
| Activity Assistant | Youth Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,611 | $30,242 |
| Hourly rate | $14.24 | $14.54 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 25,038 | 70,165 |
| 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 youth assistant is responsible for developing activity plans and scheduling programs in line with a child or youth's unique needs. As a youth assistant, you'll need to observe and understand a kid's needs and incorporate activities or social plans to help the child develop. Youth assistants are tasked with meeting the child's unique social, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. A youth assistant also instructs, demonstrates, facilitates, and leads various program activities to benefit the child or youth in care.
Activity assistants and youth assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Assistant | Youth Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,611 | $30,242 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $24,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Maine | - |
| Best paying company | Smithsonian Institution | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an activity assistant and a youth assistant in terms of educational background:
| Activity Assistant | Youth Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between activity assistants' and youth assistants' demographics:
| Activity Assistant | Youth Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 44.4% Female, 55.6% |
| 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, 12.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |