Recreation leader vs recreation director

The differences between recreation leaders and recreation directors 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 director. Additionally, a recreation director has an average salary of $48,525, 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 director are community resources, therapeutic recreation, and nursing home.

Recreation leader vs recreation director overview

	Recreation Leader	Recreation Director
Yearly salary	$30,040	$48,525
Hourly rate	$14.44	$23.33
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	35,684	8,479
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a recreation leader do?

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.

What does a recreation director do?

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.

Recreation leader vs recreation director salary

Recreation leaders and recreation directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Recreation Leader	Recreation Director
Average salary	$30,040	$48,525
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $37,000	Between $30,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Milpitas, CA
Highest paying state	Nebraska	California
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Downtown United Soccer Club
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between recreation leader and recreation director education

There are a few differences between a recreation leader and a recreation director in terms of educational background:

	Recreation Leader	Recreation Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Recreation Management
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Recreation leader vs recreation director demographics

Here are the differences between recreation leaders' and recreation directors' demographics:

	Recreation Leader	Recreation Director
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2%	Male, 48.0% Female, 52.0%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between recreation leader and recreation director duties and responsibilities

Recreation leader example responsibilities.

Manage funds and resources to include developing the annual NAF budget, which include submission and prioritization of program component requirements.
Receive training in problem solving, peer mediation and first aid & CPR.
Train in CPR, food handlers, and videos of other health relate issues.
Include the use of PowerPoint, book references, and hands-on demonstration to verify attention to all learning styles.
Utilize clinical assessment, MDS documentation, and collaboration with interdisciplinary team and families.
Supervise and provide leadership for children participating in summer programs to ensure a safe and caring environment.

Recreation director example responsibilities.

Manage recreation staff and programming for assist living and rehabilitation and skil nursing facilities.
Organize and provide staff training material regarding Alzheimer's disease.
Conduct monthly resident council meetings, daily initial evaluations, standard MDS and interdisciplinary care plan documentation.
Advance technical knowledge of all office equipment including Microsoft office and POS systems.
Expand programming, develop outdoor adventure programs, and maintain current city programs.
Design and layout seasonal brochure, create flyers, signs and periodically upload recreation information to town website.

Recreation leader vs recreation director skills

Common recreation leader skills

CPR, 25%
Customer Service, 21%
Recreation Programs, 7%
Recreational Facilities, 5%
Role Model, 4%
Youth Sports, 4%

Common recreation director skills

Community Resources, 15%
Therapeutic Recreation, 14%
Nursing Home, 14%
Customer Service, 10%
Provides Supervision, 7%
Recreation Programs, 5%

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Recreation Leader vs Recreation Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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