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The differences between recreation coordinators and day camp counselors 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 coordinator and a day camp counselor. Additionally, a recreation coordinator has an average salary of $40,777, which is higher than the $29,384 average annual salary of a day camp counselor.
The top three skills for a recreation coordinator include CPR, therapeutic recreation and recreation programs. The most important skills for a day camp counselor are CPR, kids, and cleanliness.
| Recreation Coordinator | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $40,777 | $29,384 |
| Hourly rate | $19.60 | $14.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 19,008 | 32,895 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Typically working for recreation facilities, a recreation coordinator specializes in planning and organizing recreational activities for large groups of individuals. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify the clients' needs, coordinating with teams to conceptualize plans and themes, setting schedules and objectives, liaising with internal and external parties, and monitoring the progress of all operations from planning to conception. Furthermore, as a recreation coordinator, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.
Recreation coordinators and day camp counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Coordinator | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average salary | $40,777 | $29,384 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $54,000 | Between $19,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Casper, WY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Polk County | City of Portland |
| Best paying industry | Media | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation coordinator and a day camp counselor in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Coordinator | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Recreation Management | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Duke University |
Here are the differences between recreation coordinators' and day camp counselors' demographics:
| Recreation Coordinator | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% | Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |