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The differences between recreation leaders and recreation 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 a recreation coordinator. Additionally, a recreation coordinator has an average salary of $40,777, 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 a recreation coordinator are CPR, therapeutic recreation, and recreation programs.
| Recreation Leader | Recreation Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $30,040 | $40,777 |
| Hourly rate | $14.44 | $19.60 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 35,684 | 19,008 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
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.
Recreation leaders and recreation coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Leader | Recreation Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $30,040 | $40,777 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $30,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Casper, WY |
| Highest paying state | Nebraska | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Polk County |
| Best paying industry | Government | Media |
There are a few differences between a recreation leader and a recreation coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Leader | Recreation Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Recreation Management |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between recreation leaders' and recreation coordinators' demographics:
| Recreation Leader | Recreation Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |