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The differences between recreation aides and recreation assistants 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 a recreation assistant. Additionally, a recreation assistant has an average salary of $31,040, 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 recreation assistant are customer service, MDS, and recreation programs.
| Recreation Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,756 | $31,040 |
| Hourly rate | $13.82 | $14.92 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 43,283 | 4,088 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| 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.
A recreational assistant is responsible for performing administrative support tasks while under the supervision of a recreational manager. Their duties revolve around planning various activities that align with the company's vision and mission, such as sporting events and other fun games. They also participate in arranging equipment and supplies such as tables and stages, facilitating programs, securing necessary permits and documentation, responding to calls and inquiries, and assisting participants. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with all workers and adhere to company policies and regulations.
Recreation aides and recreation assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,756 | $31,040 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $20,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellingham, WA | Barnstable Town, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | National Park Foundation | National Park Foundation |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a recreation aide and a recreation assistant in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation aides' and recreation assistants' demographics:
| Recreation Aide | Recreation Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% |
| 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, 12.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |