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The differences between recreation specialists and site 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 a site leader. Additionally, a site leader has an average salary of $64,886, which is higher than the $39,186 average annual salary of a recreation specialist.
The top three skills for a recreation specialist include CPR, customer service and recreation programs. The most important skills for a site leader are customer service, project management, and logistics.
| Recreation Specialist | Site Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $39,186 | $64,886 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $31.20 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,288 | 56,932 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| 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.
A site leader is responsible for managing the staff's performance, ensuring the smooth delivery of daily operations, and guiding the successful project completion by maximizing the staff's productivity within the specified timeframe and budget goals. Site leaders work closely with the clients, together with the site manager, to identify their specifications and requirements, as well as providing progress updates and suggesting design adjustments as needed. A site leader also performs safety inspections, making sure that all the staff follows the required operational procedures and regulations to prevent hazards and delays in project deliverables.
Recreation specialists and site leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Specialist | Site Leader | |
| Average salary | $39,186 | $64,886 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $31,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | Loveland, CO | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | Harlem Children's Zone | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | - |
There are a few differences between a recreation specialist and a site leader in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Specialist | Site Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between recreation specialists' and site leaders' demographics:
| Recreation Specialist | Site Leader | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% | Male, 65.6% Female, 34.4% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |