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The differences between recreation specialists and camp counselors 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 a camp counselor. Additionally, a recreation specialist has an average salary of $39,186, which is higher than the $24,340 average annual salary of a camp counselor.
The top three skills for a recreation specialist include CPR, customer service and recreation programs. The most important skills for a camp counselor are kids, CPR, and summer camps.
| Recreation Specialist | Camp Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $39,186 | $24,340 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $11.70 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,288 | 28,182 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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.
Camp counselors' general responsibility is the supervision of a camping event. Camp counselors' duties include reiterating the rules and regulations, emergency drills and procedures, and related standard protocols to ensure that the campers maintain a safe camping environment. A camp counselor should possess strong leadership and decision-making skills to develop recreational programs and immediately resolve concerns that might affect everyone's overall camping experience. Camp counselors also help develop social interaction, promote teamwork, and monitor participation among campers.
Recreation specialists and camp counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Specialist | Camp Counselor | |
| Average salary | $39,186 | $24,340 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $16,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | Loveland, CO | Omaha, NE |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Harlem Children's Zone | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation specialist and a camp counselor in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Specialist | Camp Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation specialists' and camp counselors' demographics:
| Recreation Specialist | Camp Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% |
| 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, 13.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |