Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between camp counselors and recreation assistants 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 recreation assistant. Additionally, a recreation assistant has an average salary of $31,040, 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 recreation assistant are customer service, MDS, and recreation programs.
| Camp Counselor | Recreation Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $24,340 | $31,040 |
| Hourly rate | $11.70 | $14.92 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 28,182 | 4,088 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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 recreational assistant is responsible for performing administrative support tasks while under the supervision of a recreational manager. Their duties revolve around planning various activities that align with the company's vision and mission, such as sporting events and other fun games. They also participate in arranging equipment and supplies such as tables and stages, facilitating programs, securing necessary permits and documentation, responding to calls and inquiries, and assisting participants. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with all workers and adhere to company policies and regulations.
Camp counselors and recreation assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Camp Counselor | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average salary | $24,340 | $31,040 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $35,000 | Between $20,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Omaha, NE | Barnstable Town, MA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | National Park Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a camp counselor and a recreation assistant in terms of educational background:
| Camp Counselor | Recreation Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between camp counselors' and recreation assistants' demographics:
| Camp Counselor | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% |
| 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, 12.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |