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The differences between recreation specialists and activity specialists 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 specialist, becoming an activity specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a recreation specialist has an average salary of $39,186, which is higher than the $32,860 average annual salary of an activity specialist.
The top three skills for a recreation specialist include CPR, customer service and recreation programs. The most important skills for an activity specialist are adaptive, patients, and mediation.
| Recreation Specialist | Activity Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,186 | $32,860 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $15.80 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,288 | 24,469 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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 specialist is responsible for organizing events and planning activity outline for a social institution or a group of people. Activity specialists identify the activity requirements and goals, coordinate with suppliers and vendors for resources, and calculate costs and expenses within the budget limitations. They also finalize the participants' lists and pick the best grounds to set up an activity, ensuring the safety and security of the guests. An activity specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports and creating clear expectations to discuss with the management.
Recreation specialists and activity specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Specialist | Activity Specialist | |
| Average salary | $39,186 | $32,860 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Loveland, CO | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | California |
| Best paying company | Harlem Children's Zone | Credit Suisse |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation specialist and an activity specialist in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Specialist | Activity Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation specialists' and activity specialists' demographics:
| Recreation Specialist | Activity Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |