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Group facilitator vs volunteer

The differences between group facilitators and volunteers 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 a volunteer. Additionally, a group facilitator has an average salary of $31,316, which is higher than the $31,227 average annual salary of a volunteer.

The top three skills for a group facilitator include social work, substance abuse and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a volunteer are child care, patient charts, and patient care.

Group facilitator vs volunteer overview

Group FacilitatorVolunteer
Yearly salary$31,316$31,227
Hourly rate$15.06$15.01
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs72,8779,583
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a group facilitator do?

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.

What does a volunteer do?

Volunteers are usually unpaid individuals who render their service to a company or organization. Most of the time, volunteers are skilled in specific areas needed by the organization but prefer to provide free service. They may be employed in another organization, but they lend their time and talent to another organization or company to give back to the community. They raise funds, create awareness, and work on the ground. Volunteers usually choose a cause or advocacy close to their heart, such as teaching children, taking care of the elderly, coaching sports teams, cleaning up communities, and caring for animals.

Group facilitator vs volunteer salary

Group facilitators and volunteers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Group FacilitatorVolunteer
Average salary$31,316$31,227
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $47,000Between $23,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyHawaii Pacific Health-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between group facilitator and volunteer education

There are a few differences between a group facilitator and a volunteer in terms of educational background:

Group FacilitatorVolunteer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Fullerton

Group facilitator vs volunteer demographics

Here are the differences between group facilitators' and volunteers' demographics:

Group FacilitatorVolunteer
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 28.7% Female, 71.3%Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 13.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 7.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between group facilitator and volunteer duties and responsibilities

Group facilitator example responsibilities.

  • Analyze online learning experience and achieve improvement through implementing use of social networking, interactive PowerPoint and additional software.
  • Provide individual and family therapy to the community at large and select clients of the IOP program.
  • Facilitate adult groups for mental health intensive outpatient program where focus are on DBT and CBT skills.
  • Provide DBT groups to adult populations with personality disorders.
  • Facilitate intensive wraparound services to families with emotionally disturb children and adolescents.
  • Gather facts and evidence to establish eligibility benefits base on HIV and medical conditions.
  • Show more

Volunteer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage web presence, including Facebook account and other social media business accounts!
  • Train staff members on managing contacts, scheduling programs, and running analytic reports with the Salesforce program.
  • Lead team-building exercises and facilitate group discussions on leadership topics.
  • Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation where applicable.
  • Supervise and maintain safe play for children's soccer games.
  • Teach GED to refugees and survivors of torture seeking to enroll in college.
  • Show more

Group facilitator vs volunteer skills

Common group facilitator skills
  • Social Work, 15%
  • Substance Abuse, 14%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Mental Health Issues, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • Domestic Violence, 4%
Common volunteer skills
  • Child Care, 12%
  • Patient Charts, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Front Desk, 9%
  • Community Outreach, 9%
  • Mathematics, 9%

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