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The differences between program instructors and program facilitators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a program instructor, becoming a program facilitator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a program instructor has an average salary of $42,380, which is higher than the $40,024 average annual salary of a program facilitator.
The top three skills for a program instructor include patients, K-12 and math. The most important skills for a program facilitator are program curriculum, substance abuse, and CPR.
| Program Instructor | Program Facilitator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,380 | $40,024 |
| Hourly rate | $20.38 | $19.24 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 92,369 | 103,247 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A program instructor is responsible for facilitating indoor and outdoor programs with various goals and objectives catering to different participants. Program instructors must have excellent communication skills, especially on gaining the participants' attention and engaging them to join the activities prepared for the day. They also maintain a safe and creative learning environment for everyone, observing each participant's behavior and interests, developing group cooperation, and fostering personal development. A program instructor reiterates safety procedures and regulations during the program for everyone's strict compliance and immediately addresses conflicts soon as they arise.
Program facilitators have good skills in communication, empathy, active listening, conversation, conflict management, and consensus-building. They also have a keen understanding of group dynamics, management, and how to create an inclusive environment. Their daily tasks will be to assist in the organization and implementation of recreation or work programs, and organizing employee training corporate programs.
Program instructors and program facilitators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Instructor | Program Facilitator | |
| Average salary | $42,380 | $40,024 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a program instructor and a program facilitator in terms of educational background:
| Program Instructor | Program Facilitator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between program instructors' and program facilitators' demographics:
| Program Instructor | Program Facilitator | |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 32.6% Female, 67.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |