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The differences between activity coordinators and activity specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an activity coordinator, becoming an activity specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an activity coordinator has an average salary of $35,309, which is higher than the $32,860 average annual salary of an activity specialist.
The top three skills for an activity coordinator include customer service, patients and CPR. The most important skills for an activity specialist are adaptive, patients, and mediation.
| Activity Coordinator | Activity Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,309 | $32,860 |
| Hourly rate | $16.98 | $15.80 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 20,364 | 24,469 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An activity coordinator is someone who creates and plans activities, outings, and events in various settings. Typically, they oversee creating programs, staffing events, and supervising the implementation of activities. They generally report to the activity director or community manager. One of their tasks is to collaborate with directors of studies to schedule the activities. Other tasks include coordinating staff with the activities and informing them of the decisions regularly. Also, they strategize, coordinate, and encourage the members to participate in the activities.
An activity specialist is responsible for organizing events and planning activity outline for a social institution or a group of people. Activity specialists identify the activity requirements and goals, coordinate with suppliers and vendors for resources, and calculate costs and expenses within the budget limitations. They also finalize the participants' lists and pick the best grounds to set up an activity, ensuring the safety and security of the guests. An activity specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports and creating clear expectations to discuss with the management.
Activity coordinators and activity specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Coordinator | Activity Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,309 | $32,860 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | California |
| Best paying company | Medical University of South Carolina | Credit Suisse |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between an activity coordinator and an activity specialist in terms of educational background:
| Activity Coordinator | Activity Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between activity coordinators' and activity specialists' demographics:
| Activity Coordinator | Activity Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6% | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |