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The differences between parks recreation directors and summer camp 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 summer camp counselor. Additionally, a parks recreation director has an average salary of $48,942, which is higher than the $25,617 average annual salary of a summer camp counselor.
The top three skills for a parks recreation director include aquatics, recreation programs and flag football. The most important skills for a summer camp counselor are child care, kids, and CPR.
| Parks Recreation Director | Summer Camp Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,942 | $25,617 |
| Hourly rate | $23.53 | $12.32 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,782 | 31,954 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
Summer camps are programs with different themes organized for children or teenagers during the summer months. Summer camp counselors are responsible for the overall supervision of campers and the planning and implementation of the different programs to give children a memorable experience. It is their responsibility to create a fun, safe, and rewarding environment for each camper. They provide counsel, support, and monitor each camper's individual development. A good summer camp counselor is reliable, honest, and has strong leadership skills.
Parks recreation directors and summer camp counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Parks Recreation Director | Summer Camp Counselor | |
| Average salary | $48,942 | $25,617 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $85,000 | Between $17,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | St. Anne's-Belfield School |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Education |
There are a few differences between a parks recreation director and a summer camp counselor in terms of educational background:
| Parks Recreation Director | Summer Camp Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Recreation Management | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between parks recreation directors' and summer camp counselors' demographics:
| Parks Recreation Director | Summer Camp Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |