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The differences between recreation managers and managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a recreation manager, becoming a manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manager has an average salary of $58,651, which is higher than the $47,007 average annual salary of a recreation manager.
The top three skills for a recreation manager include CPR, cleanliness and safety procedures. The most important skills for a manager are customer service, payroll, and food safety.
| Recreation Manager | Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $47,007 | $58,651 |
| Hourly rate | $22.60 | $28.20 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,137 | 1,236,194 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.57 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department. Managers are responsible that the department they are handling is functioning well. They set the department goals and the steps they must take to achieve the goals. They are also in charge of assessing the performance of their departments and their employees. Additionally, managers are responsible for interviewing prospective candidates for department vacancies and assessing their fit to the needs of the department. Managers also set the general working environment in the department, and they are expected to ensure that their employees remain motivated.
Recreation managers and managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Manager | Manager | |
| Average salary | $47,007 | $58,651 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $70,000 | Between $37,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | St. John's Episcopal Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a recreation manager and a manager in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Manager | Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between recreation managers' and managers' demographics:
| Recreation Manager | Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 51.0% Female, 49.0% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |