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Recreation programmer vs activities director

The differences between recreation programmers and activities 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 programmer and an activities director. Additionally, an activities director has an average salary of $44,982, which is higher than the $37,908 average annual salary of a recreation programmer.

The top three skills for a recreation programmer include CPR, reservations and press releases. The most important skills for an activities director are patients, rehabilitation, and resident care.

Recreation programmer vs activities director overview

Recreation ProgrammerActivities Director
Yearly salary$37,908$44,982
Hourly rate$18.23$21.63
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,2906,845
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Recreation programmer vs activities director salary

Recreation programmers and activities directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreation ProgrammerActivities Director
Average salary$37,908$44,982
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $57,000Between $27,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City-Huntington, NY
Highest paying state-Mississippi
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between recreation programmer and activities director education

There are a few differences between a recreation programmer and an activities director in terms of educational background:

Recreation ProgrammerActivities Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorKinesiologyBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachUniversity of Pennsylvania

Recreation programmer vs activities director demographics

Here are the differences between recreation programmers' and activities directors' demographics:

Recreation ProgrammerActivities Director
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 50.7% Female, 49.3%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between recreation programmer and activities director duties and responsibilities

Recreation programmer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the maintenance of post MWR relate administrative records and submit program status reports in accordance with establish contractual requirements.
  • Direct aquatics program and staff; hire, train, and supervise part-time and seasonal staff.
  • Design and printing of all flyers, brochures, and posters used for event and program marketing.
  • Produce advertising for events, activities and programs via flyers, media and promotion through other events, etc.
  • Provide coaching, instruction, supervision and counseling to participants in aquatics activities and other activities and programs within the center.
  • Examine injure persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
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Activities director example responsibilities.

  • Manage updated JCC social media, including Facebook.
  • Manage pet therapy/pat visitation protocol.
  • Attend interdisciplinary care plan meetings and document in MDS and resident medical records as appropriate.
  • Plan, organize, and run the afterschool
  • Create reports, handouts, and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Assist teachers with reading and mathematics lessons and activities.
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Recreation programmer vs activities director skills

Common recreation programmer skills
  • CPR, 30%
  • Reservations, 11%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Wide Events, 8%
  • Flyers, 7%
  • Outdoor Recreation Programs, 5%
Common activities director skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Resident Care, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • MDS, 6%

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