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The differences between park aides and recreation assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a park aide, becoming a recreation assistant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a recreation assistant has an average salary of $31,040, which is higher than the $28,379 average annual salary of a park aide.
The top three skills for a park aide include GRASS, general grounds and various maintenance. The most important skills for a recreation assistant are customer service, MDS, and recreation programs.
| Park Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,379 | $31,040 |
| Hourly rate | $13.64 | $14.92 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 41,113 | 4,088 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A park aide is an administrative or grounds support staff in a park whose duties will vary according to the department in which they are posted. Park aides working in customer service interact with visitors to guide and give information or tour guides. Those working on the grounds may be assigned conservation and recreational duties or cleaning, while those in administration will be responsible for a variety of administrative roles such as working on outreach programs, visitor registration, or revenue collection.
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.
Park aides and recreation assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Park Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,379 | $31,040 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $20,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Barnstable Town, MA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | Washington State University | National Park Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a park aide and a recreation assistant in terms of educational background:
| Park Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Environmental Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between park aides' and recreation assistants' demographics:
| Park Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 0.8% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.5% Asian, 1.4% White, 90.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | 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% |