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The differences between recreation aides and activity coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a recreation aide and an activity coordinator. Additionally, an activity coordinator has an average salary of $35,309, which is higher than the $28,756 average annual salary of a recreation aide.
The top three skills for a recreation aide include customer service, CPR and rehabilitation. The most important skills for an activity coordinator are customer service, patients, and CPR.
| Recreation Aide | Activity Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $28,756 | $35,309 |
| Hourly rate | $13.82 | $16.98 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 43,283 | 20,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A recreation aide is responsible for assisting with the planning of recreational activities, following the supervision of a recreational manager. Recreation aides prepare all the resources, guide the participants, maintain the activity equipment, facilitate the program, and reiterate the guidelines for the safe execution of the activity. They also ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities to be used. A recreation aide must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the participants' inquiries and concerns, as well as performing administrative duties as the recreational manager advises.
An activity coordinator is someone who creates and plans activities, outings, and events in various settings. Typically, they oversee creating programs, staffing events, and supervising the implementation of activities. They generally report to the activity director or community manager. One of their tasks is to collaborate with directors of studies to schedule the activities. Other tasks include coordinating staff with the activities and informing them of the decisions regularly. Also, they strategize, coordinate, and encourage the members to participate in the activities.
Recreation aides and activity coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Aide | Activity Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $28,756 | $35,309 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellingham, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | National Park Foundation | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a recreation aide and an activity coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Aide | Activity Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between recreation aides' and activity coordinators' demographics:
| Recreation Aide | Activity Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% | Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |