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The differences between recreation managers and activities 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 manager and an activities leader. Additionally, a recreation manager has an average salary of $47,007, which is higher than the $30,329 average annual salary of an activities leader.
The top three skills for a recreation manager include CPR, cleanliness and safety procedures. The most important skills for an activities leader are CPR, direct supervision, and homework assistance.
| Recreation Manager | Activities Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $47,007 | $30,329 |
| Hourly rate | $22.60 | $14.58 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,137 | 35,544 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Recreation managers create programs at a recreation center for specific people such as the elderly, children, and disabled people. These managers keep communities informed regarding the different excursions, programs, and exhibitions. They advise counselors and administrators on recreation and parks and ways to obtain sponsors. They coordinate and keep records of all activities and events. Their job also includes dealing with issues like being understaffed. They must work with different kinds of people, must have management and organizational abilities, and be physically fit.
An activity leader's main duty is to offer sports programs and exercises that are riveting in a positive manner. The activities typically assigned to leaders are the ones they understand for the smooth promotion and planning of events. Usually, hotel resorts and summer camps seasonally employ activity leaders to make time for different exercises throughout the year. Working as an activities leader can also be viewed as a way to practically enhance a person's teaching or coaching skills, leadership and communication skills, and marketing skills when it comes to publicizing upcoming events.
Recreation managers and activities leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Manager | Activities Leader | |
| Average salary | $47,007 | $30,329 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $70,000 | Between $20,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | St. John's Episcopal Hospital | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a recreation manager and an activities leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Manager | Activities Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation managers' and activities leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Manager | Activities Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |