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The differences between human services instructors 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 human services instructor and an activity assistant. Additionally, a human services instructor has an average salary of $42,301, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a human services instructor include human services, social work and professional development. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Human Services Instructor | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,301 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $20.34 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 115,353 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A human services instructor instructs students in human services and other subjects, typically those related to working in the community or social work. They generally teach these courses in classrooms, both physical and online, but occasionally work in practicum settings. They develop courses that will effectively teach students, create assignments, and give exams. They may also conduct research projects or even publish articles in academic journals as required. This position requires a high level of professionalism.
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.
Human services instructors and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Services Instructor | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,301 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $77,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Mohawk Valley Health System | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a human services instructor and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Human Services Instructor | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between human services instructors' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Human Services Instructor | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | 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% |