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The differences between group facilitators and activity assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a group facilitator and an activity assistant. Additionally, a group facilitator has an average salary of $31,316, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a group facilitator include social work, substance abuse and crisis intervention. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Group Facilitator | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $31,316 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $15.06 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 72,877 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A group facilitator plans and guides group events to ensure everyone's objectives are met by guiding everyone through the process. They are involved in the overall outcome of the meeting, including participation. Your job as a facilitator is to create an environment where everyone can participate in the group discussion, understand each other's views, and share responsibility. An important thing to note as a facilitator is that you don't take sides and remain neutral.
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.
Group facilitators and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Facilitator | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $31,316 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $47,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Hawaii Pacific Health | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a group facilitator and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Group Facilitator | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between group facilitators' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Group Facilitator | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |