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The differences between recreation directors and site 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 director and a site leader. Additionally, a site leader has an average salary of $64,886, which is higher than the $48,525 average annual salary of a recreation director.
The top three skills for a recreation director include community resources, therapeutic recreation and nursing home. The most important skills for a site leader are customer service, project management, and logistics.
| Recreation Director | Site Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $48,525 | $64,886 |
| Hourly rate | $23.33 | $31.20 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 8,479 | 56,932 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Recreation directors may take part in leading activities like canoeing, wilderness first-aid, rock climbing, camping, and resource management for this dynamic career. Responsibilities include implementation and success assurance of recreation programs, as well as management of schedules for activities and facilities. They also handle the recruitment, training, and supervision of staff and volunteers.
A site leader is responsible for managing the staff's performance, ensuring the smooth delivery of daily operations, and guiding the successful project completion by maximizing the staff's productivity within the specified timeframe and budget goals. Site leaders work closely with the clients, together with the site manager, to identify their specifications and requirements, as well as providing progress updates and suggesting design adjustments as needed. A site leader also performs safety inspections, making sure that all the staff follows the required operational procedures and regulations to prevent hazards and delays in project deliverables.
Recreation directors and site leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Director | Site Leader | |
| Average salary | $48,525 | $64,886 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $77,000 | Between $31,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | Milpitas, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Downtown United Soccer Club | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation director and a site leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Director | Site Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Recreation Management | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between recreation directors' and site leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Director | Site Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0% | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |