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The differences between recreation specialists and sports coordinators 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 sports coordinator. Additionally, a sports coordinator has an average salary of $42,562, 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 sports coordinator are CPR, softball, and volleyball.
| Recreation Specialist | Sports Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,186 | $42,562 |
| Hourly rate | $18.84 | $20.46 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 3,288 | 17,725 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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.
The sports coordinator is responsible for leading all sports-related activities and works with other members to manage various sports programs that are in place for students. It is part of their responsibility to lead all sports activities, including preparation of the sports calendar and making sure the rules of all inter-school sports competitions are followed. They coordinate with a team of people to help in promoting sports as a healthy activity for students. Moreover, they are the point of contact for sports-related concerns and handling the approved budget for sports.
Recreation specialists and sports coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Specialist | Sports Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $39,186 | $42,562 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $25,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Loveland, CO | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Harlem Children's Zone | Magellan Health |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation specialist and a sports coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Specialist | Sports Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation specialists' and sports coordinators' demographics:
| Recreation Specialist | Sports Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| 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, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |