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The differences between psychological assistants 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 psychological assistant and an activity assistant. Additionally, a psychological assistant has an average salary of $68,862, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a psychological assistant include patients, crisis intervention and mental illness. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Psychological Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $68,862 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $33.11 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 90,785 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A psychological assistant primarily performs support tasks to assist a psychologist in treating patients at a medical facility. Their duties focus on helping patients by answering inquiries, giving instructions, explaining procedures, gathering requirements, and conducting initial assessments. They can participate in serving the patients under the supervision and directives of a licensed psychologist. Additionally, a psychological assistant may also participate in conducting research, preparing and processing necessary paperwork, handling calls and other forms of correspondence, and attending meetings and seminars.
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.
Psychological assistants and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Psychological Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $68,862 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $105,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sparks, NV | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Maine |
| Best paying company | New York University | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | - |
There are a few differences between a psychological assistant and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Psychological Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between psychological assistants' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Psychological Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.5% Female, 70.5% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 6.9% White, 50.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.0% | 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% |