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The differences between recreation leaders and activity coordinators 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 leader and an activity coordinator. Additionally, an activity coordinator has an average salary of $35,309, which is higher than the $30,040 average annual salary of a recreation leader.
The top three skills for a recreation leader include CPR, customer service and recreation programs. The most important skills for an activity coordinator are customer service, patients, and CPR.
| Recreation Leader | Activity Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $30,040 | $35,309 |
| Hourly rate | $14.44 | $16.98 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 35,684 | 20,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The primary role of recreation leaders is to encourage recreational and sporting activities in various settings such as schools, parks, and youth centers. Their job requires them to motivate others to work as a team member while also promoting good morals and sportsmanship. They develop recreational and sports programs best suited for their company's client base. Other duties also include advertising the availability of recreational activities, securing funding for special events and projects, and adhering to safety practices.
An activity coordinator is someone who creates and plans activities, outings, and events in various settings. Typically, they oversee creating programs, staffing events, and supervising the implementation of activities. They generally report to the activity director or community manager. One of their tasks is to collaborate with directors of studies to schedule the activities. Other tasks include coordinating staff with the activities and informing them of the decisions regularly. Also, they strategize, coordinate, and encourage the members to participate in the activities.
Recreation leaders and activity coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Leader | Activity Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $30,040 | $35,309 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Nebraska | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a recreation leader and an activity coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Leader | Activity Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between recreation leaders' and activity coordinators' demographics:
| Recreation Leader | Activity Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2% | Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |