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The differences between resident assistants and activity assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a resident assistant and an activity assistant. Additionally, a resident assistant has an average salary of $29,971, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a resident assistant include home health, CPR and vital signs. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Resident Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,971 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $14.41 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 19,033 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Resident assistants help manage peers or younger students who live in a particular residence hall on campus. They are usually in charge of welcoming fellow students, providing residence hall tours, and helping students cope with their new environment. To help students become more at ease with their environment, resident assistants usually act as buddies. They answer inquiries that the students may have and act as the bridge between the students and the residence hall management. They assist with administrative activities in the residence hall, such as handing out forms for students and ensuring documents are correctly filled out.
Activity assistants are the ones who organize and execute activities in different settings, including recreation centers, camps, cruise ships, and retirement or nursing homes. They design programs to encourage physical activity, increase socialization, deliver continuing education, and provide entertainment. They are also the ones who handle logistics, select and demonstrate activities, maintain proper equipment, and ensure the safety of participants. They can work full-time, part-time, or seasonally in different settings depending on the kind of clients that they cater to.
Resident assistants and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Resident Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $29,971 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $39,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Mount St. Mary's University | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a resident assistant and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Resident Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between resident assistants' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Resident Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.0% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |