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The differences between activity specialists and therapeutic recreation specialists 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 specialist and a therapeutic recreation specialist. Additionally, a therapeutic recreation specialist has an average salary of $46,477, which is higher than the $32,860 average annual salary of an activity specialist.
The top three skills for an activity specialist include adaptive, patients and mediation. The most important skills for a therapeutic recreation specialist are patients, CTRS, and interdisciplinary.
| Activity Specialist | Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,860 | $46,477 |
| Hourly rate | $15.80 | $22.34 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 24,469 | 38,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A Therapeutic Recreation Specialist treats people who are suffering from chronic disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. They often work in medical centers, hospitals, and private rehabilitation facilities.
Activity specialists and therapeutic recreation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Specialist | Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $32,860 | $46,477 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $44,000 | Between $31,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Credit Suisse | LCMC Health |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an activity specialist and a therapeutic recreation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Activity Specialist | Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Business | Rehabilitation Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between activity specialists' and therapeutic recreation specialists' demographics:
| Activity Specialist | Therapeutic Recreation Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 9% | 9% |