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The differences between parks recreation directors and senior counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a parks recreation director and a senior counselor. Additionally, a senior counselor has an average salary of $127,405, which is higher than the $48,942 average annual salary of a parks recreation director.
The top three skills for a parks recreation director include aquatics, recreation programs and flag football. The most important skills for a senior counselor are litigation, legal advice, and legal issues.
| Parks Recreation Director | Senior Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,942 | $127,405 |
| Hourly rate | $23.53 | $61.25 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,782 | 28,008 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A parks recreation director manages and leads the operations of a park's recreation department. You will be responsible for department oversight, budget management and requisition, coordination with other town council departments, recreation publicity campaigns, and overseeing capital expenditure. Parks recreation directors are the policy and strategy leads for city parks and submit regular reports to the council parks boards. Staff recruitment and supervision, community engagement in recreation activities, and ensuring policy compliance are other core duties.
The responsibilities of a senior counselor will depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Most of the time, a senior counselor works with the youth, particularly children. They focus on facilitating recreational programs, ensuring a safe and fun experience for them. They may also assess the children's condition and needs, providing them with the necessary assistance and guidance. Furthermore, when a senior counselor must reach out to parents and guardians, they may inform them of any concerns or progress.
Parks recreation directors and senior counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Parks Recreation Director | Senior Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,942 | $127,405 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $85,000 | Between $81,000 And $200,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | Crowell & Moring |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | - |
There are a few differences between a parks recreation director and a senior counselor in terms of educational background:
| Parks Recreation Director | Senior Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Recreation Management | Law |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Duke University |
Here are the differences between parks recreation directors' and senior counselors' demographics:
| Parks Recreation Director | Senior Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |