Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between recreation managers and orientation 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 orientation leader. Additionally, a recreation manager has an average salary of $47,007, which is higher than the $33,848 average annual salary of an orientation leader.
The top three skills for a recreation manager include CPR, cleanliness and safety procedures. The most important skills for an orientation leader are role model, group discussions, and orientation program.
| Recreation Manager | Orientation Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $47,007 | $33,848 |
| Hourly rate | $22.60 | $16.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,137 | 32,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 orientation leader helps new students adjust to life in universities or colleges. They are primarily responsible for sharing campus advice, facilitating campus tours, assisting incoming students in class and organization registrations, introducing university opportunities, and discussing essential matters with students and their families. Furthermore, an orientation leader usually works with faculty members and staff, coordinating with them, especially when handling students' programs. Aside from serving as a role model, an orientation leader must also share various academic and social resources to help the freshmen.
Recreation managers and orientation leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Manager | Orientation Leader | |
| Average salary | $47,007 | $33,848 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $70,000 | Between $10,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | - |
| Best paying company | St. John's Episcopal Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation manager and an orientation leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Manager | Orientation Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation managers' and orientation leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Manager | Orientation Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |