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Recreation supervisor vs activities leader

The differences between recreation supervisors 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 supervisor and an activities leader. Additionally, a recreation supervisor has an average salary of $45,209, which is higher than the $30,329 average annual salary of an activities leader.

The top three skills for a recreation supervisor include CPR, recreational facilities and payroll. The most important skills for an activities leader are CPR, direct supervision, and homework assistance.

Recreation supervisor vs activities leader overview

Recreation SupervisorActivities Leader
Yearly salary$45,209$30,329
Hourly rate$21.74$14.58
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs4,69835,544
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a recreation supervisor do?

Recreation Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the operations and service delivery of a recreation program for an organization. Their duties include facilitating the implementation of the recreations program, assist in staff recruitment, scheduling staff roster, developing training sessions, and track employee performance. They manage contracts, conduct community research, perform marketing outreach activities, and serve as a district representative in engaging external parties. Recreational Supervisors also develop marketing materials, coordinate logistic arrangements, monitor inventory, prepare program budgets, and write grant proposals.

What does an activities leader do?

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 supervisor vs activities leader salary

Recreation supervisors and activities leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreation SupervisorActivities Leader
Average salary$45,209$30,329
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $62,000Between $20,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKBoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMississippi
Best paying companyGlen Ellyn Park DistrictBayer
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between recreation supervisor and activities leader education

There are a few differences between a recreation supervisor and an activities leader in terms of educational background:

Recreation SupervisorActivities Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorRecreation ManagementPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachNorthwestern University

Recreation supervisor vs activities leader demographics

Here are the differences between recreation supervisors' and activities leaders' demographics:

Recreation SupervisorActivities Leader
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 56.2% Female, 43.8%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.2% 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between recreation supervisor and activities leader duties and responsibilities

Recreation supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage recreation staff and programming for assist living and rehabilitation and skil nursing facilities.
  • Manage activity and progress reports including statistical data require by regulators, initial assessments, MDS and IDC documentation.
  • Open, close and run swim center.
  • Use of POS system for food and beverage sales
  • Develop plans and provide oversight for detailing and finishing work.
  • Start as a lifeguard, monitoring swimmers and waders for safety reason.
  • Show more

Activities leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage security and access policies base upon operational need-to-know and DOD regulations and requirements
  • Train and certify in CPR prior to each summer.
  • Uphold company standard of inventory management and WCM manufacturing principles.
  • Conduct and supervise appropriate programs and activities in a leadership capacity or direct by site supervisor.
  • Develop leadership skills while coordinating and instructing after school educational activities for students of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Provide functional subject matter expertise daily technical operational and guidance on DOD and DA standard logistical systems.
  • Show more

Recreation supervisor vs activities leader skills

Common recreation supervisor skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Recreational Facilities, 11%
  • Payroll, 8%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%
  • Front Desk, 3%
  • Performance Evaluations, 3%
Common activities leader skills
  • CPR, 24%
  • Direct Supervision, 16%
  • Homework Assistance, 8%
  • Role Model, 7%
  • Physical Stamina, 7%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%

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