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The differences between camp counselors and camp directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a camp counselor and a camp director. Additionally, a camp director has an average salary of $38,675, which is higher than the $24,340 average annual salary of a camp counselor.
The top three skills for a camp counselor include kids, CPR and summer camps. The most important skills for a camp director are CPR, role model, and safety procedures.
| Camp Counselor | Camp Director | |
| Yearly salary | $24,340 | $38,675 |
| Hourly rate | $11.70 | $18.59 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 28,182 | 8,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Camp counselors' general responsibility is the supervision of a camping event. Camp counselors' duties include reiterating the rules and regulations, emergency drills and procedures, and related standard protocols to ensure that the campers maintain a safe camping environment. A camp counselor should possess strong leadership and decision-making skills to develop recreational programs and immediately resolve concerns that might affect everyone's overall camping experience. Camp counselors also help develop social interaction, promote teamwork, and monitor participation among campers.
A camp director spearheads and oversees the operations of recreational camps and their programs. They manage the camps' daily activities and supervise the employees, ensuring that campers get to receive optimal services and experience. A camp director is mostly responsible for setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, planning events and activities, liaising with internal and external parties, and building strong relationships with business partners. Moreover, a camp director leads and motivates staff to reach goals, all while implementing the camps' safety policies and regulations.
Camp counselors and camp directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Camp Counselor | Camp Director | |
| Average salary | $24,340 | $38,675 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Omaha, NE | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | New York |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Gill St. Bernard's School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a camp counselor and a camp director in terms of educational background:
| Camp Counselor | Camp Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between camp counselors' and camp directors' demographics:
| Camp Counselor | Camp Director | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 46.0% Female, 54.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.6% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |