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The differences between recreation specialists 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 specialist and an activities leader. Additionally, a recreation specialist has an average salary of $39,186, which is higher than the $30,329 average annual salary of an activities leader.
The top three skills for a recreation specialist include CPR, customer service and recreation programs. The most important skills for an activities leader are CPR, direct supervision, and homework assistance.
| Recreation Specialist | Activities Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $39,186 | $30,329 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $14.58 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,288 | 35,544 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A recreation specialist is responsible for planning and organizing engaging activities according to the event's purpose and community theme. Recreation specialists handle the event's outline from conceptualization to the actual execution, including the location, resources, participants, and budget limitations. They consider the needs of the participants and develop strategic plans that would cater to their lifestyle, growth, and development. A recreation specialist may also conduct outreach operations to gain sponsors and fundraising to enhance community events.
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 specialists and activities leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Specialist | Activities Leader | |
| Average salary | $39,186 | $30,329 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $20,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Loveland, CO | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Harlem Children's Zone | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a recreation specialist and an activities leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Specialist | Activities Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation specialists' and activities leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Specialist | Activities Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.3% 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% |