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The differences between recreation aides and child care associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a recreation aide, becoming a child care associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a child care associate has an average salary of $29,146, 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 a child care associate are kids, CPR, and customer service.
| Recreation Aide | Child Care Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $28,756 | $29,146 |
| Hourly rate | $13.82 | $14.01 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 43,283 | 74,279 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A child care associate is primarily responsible for children's welfare and health care while their parents are away. Typically in a school setting, a child care associate monitors children's behavior while giving them tasks that enhance their academic and interpersonal skills, such as recreational games and coloring sessions. For younger learners, a child care associate may change diapers, prepare milk, and accompany them to the toilet. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the school's policies and regulations while ensuring a safe and healthy environment for the children.
Recreation aides and child care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Aide | Child Care Associate | |
| Average salary | $28,756 | $29,146 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $19,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellingham, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | National Park Foundation | WRMA Incorporated |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation aide and a child care associate in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Aide | Child Care Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between recreation aides' and child care associates' demographics:
| Recreation Aide | Child Care Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% | Male, 14.2% Female, 85.8% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |