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The differences between recreation managers and program leads 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 a program lead. Additionally, a program lead has an average salary of $100,727, 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 program lead are project management, HR, and work ethic.
| Recreation Manager | Program Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $47,007 | $100,727 |
| Hourly rate | $22.60 | $48.43 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,137 | 61,632 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
A program lead is responsible for managing a business program's operation from its conceptualization to implementation. Program leads must have excellent communication and researching skills to monitor current industry trends, adjusting program techniques and strategies to meet society's demands. They have a clear understanding of the organization's long-term goals and outline plans to define those objectives, bringing new programs to light following clients' specifications that would help the business grow revenues, maintain customer satisfaction, and keep its good reputation, and achieve profitability goals.
Recreation managers and program leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Manager | Program Lead | |
| Average salary | $47,007 | $100,727 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $70,000 | Between $59,000 And $171,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | New York |
| Best paying company | St. John's Episcopal Hospital | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation manager and a program lead in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Manager | Program Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation managers' and program leads' demographics:
| Recreation Manager | Program Lead | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |