Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between recreation assistants and orientation leaders 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 assistant and an orientation leader. Additionally, an orientation leader has an average salary of $33,848, which is higher than the $31,040 average annual salary of a recreation assistant.
The top three skills for a recreation assistant include customer service, MDS and recreation programs. The most important skills for an orientation leader are role model, group discussions, and orientation program.
| Recreation Assistant | Orientation Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $31,040 | $33,848 |
| Hourly rate | $14.92 | $16.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,088 | 32,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
An orientation leader helps new students adjust to life in universities or colleges. They are primarily responsible for sharing campus advice, facilitating campus tours, assisting incoming students in class and organization registrations, introducing university opportunities, and discussing essential matters with students and their families. Furthermore, an orientation leader usually works with faculty members and staff, coordinating with them, especially when handling students' programs. Aside from serving as a role model, an orientation leader must also share various academic and social resources to help the freshmen.
Recreation assistants and orientation leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Assistant | Orientation Leader | |
| Average salary | $31,040 | $33,848 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $46,000 | Between $10,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Barnstable Town, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | West Virginia | - |
| Best paying company | National Park Foundation | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation assistant and an orientation leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Assistant | Orientation Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation assistants' and orientation leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Assistant | Orientation Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% | Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |