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The differences between recreation therapists and activity specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a recreation therapist and an activity specialist. Additionally, a recreation therapist has an average salary of $55,992, which is higher than the $32,860 average annual salary of an activity specialist.
The top three skills for a recreation therapist include patients, CTRS and mental health. The most important skills for an activity specialist are adaptive, patients, and mediation.
| Recreation Therapist | Activity Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $55,992 | $32,860 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $15.80 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 54,263 | 24,469 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A recreation therapist is responsible for supporting the patients' physical and mental wellness by organizing therapeutic programs and activities, depending on the patients' condition and existing treatment plans. Recreation therapists work with other medical health professionals for advice and medication needs. They also track the patients' progress, maintain a medical chart, and report any updates to the physicians and patients' family members. A recreation therapist manages the resources and materials for the activities and ensures the safety and security of the participants.
An activity specialist is responsible for organizing events and planning activity outline for a social institution or a group of people. Activity specialists identify the activity requirements and goals, coordinate with suppliers and vendors for resources, and calculate costs and expenses within the budget limitations. They also finalize the participants' lists and pick the best grounds to set up an activity, ensuring the safety and security of the guests. An activity specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports and creating clear expectations to discuss with the management.
Recreation therapists and activity specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recreation Therapist | Activity Specialist | |
| Average salary | $55,992 | $32,860 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $85,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cottage Health | Credit Suisse |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a recreation therapist and an activity specialist in terms of educational background:
| Recreation Therapist | Activity Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between recreation therapists' and activity specialists' demographics:
| Recreation Therapist | Activity Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |