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Recreation supervisor vs program lead

The differences between recreation supervisors and program leads 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 a program lead. Additionally, a program lead has an average salary of $100,727, which is higher than the $45,209 average annual salary of a recreation supervisor.

The top three skills for a recreation supervisor include CPR, recreational facilities and payroll. The most important skills for a program lead are project management, HR, and work ethic.

Recreation supervisor vs program lead overview

Recreation SupervisorProgram Lead
Yearly salary$45,209$100,727
Hourly rate$21.74$48.43
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs4,69861,632
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
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 a program lead do?

A program lead is responsible for managing a business program's operation from its conceptualization to implementation. Program leads must have excellent communication and researching skills to monitor current industry trends, adjusting program techniques and strategies to meet society's demands. They have a clear understanding of the organization's long-term goals and outline plans to define those objectives, bringing new programs to light following clients' specifications that would help the business grow revenues, maintain customer satisfaction, and keep its good reputation, and achieve profitability goals.

Recreation supervisor vs program lead salary

Recreation supervisors and program leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recreation SupervisorProgram Lead
Average salary$45,209$100,727
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $62,000Between $59,000 And $171,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKWashington, DC
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew York
Best paying companyGlen Ellyn Park DistrictNetflix
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between recreation supervisor and program lead education

There are a few differences between a recreation supervisor and a program lead in terms of educational background:

Recreation SupervisorProgram Lead
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorRecreation ManagementBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachNorthwestern University

Recreation supervisor vs program lead demographics

Here are the differences between recreation supervisors' and program leads' demographics:

Recreation SupervisorProgram Lead
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 56.2% Female, 43.8%Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
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, 10.0% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between recreation supervisor and program lead 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

Program lead example responsibilities.

  • Assess instructor effectiveness in achieving client ISP objectives.
  • Manage security and access policies base upon operational need-to-know and DOD regulations and requirements
  • Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
  • Up to date on CPR, trauma medical aid and restraints holds.
  • Know basics of first aid and CPR, have not receive certification yet.
  • Evaluate quarterly expenditure reports and project budgets, and release money to local NGOs.
  • Show more

Recreation supervisor vs program lead skills

Common recreation supervisor skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Recreational Facilities, 11%
  • Payroll, 8%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%
  • Front Desk, 3%
  • Performance Evaluations, 3%
Common program lead skills
  • Project Management, 13%
  • HR, 11%
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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