Post job

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs activity coordinator

The differences between therapeutic recreation assistants and activity 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 therapeutic recreation assistant and an activity coordinator. Additionally, an activity coordinator has an average salary of $35,309, which is higher than the $25,481 average annual salary of a therapeutic recreation assistant.

The top three skills for a therapeutic recreation assistant include patients, autism and compassion. The most important skills for an activity coordinator are customer service, patients, and CPR.

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs activity coordinator overview

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantActivity Coordinator
Yearly salary$25,481$35,309
Hourly rate$12.25$16.98
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs3,87320,364
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs activity coordinator salary

Therapeutic recreation assistants and activity coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantActivity Coordinator
Average salary$25,481$35,309
Salary rangeBetween $16,000 And $39,000Between $28,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Mississippi
Best paying company-Medical University of South Carolina
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between therapeutic recreation assistant and activity coordinator education

There are a few differences between a therapeutic recreation assistant and an activity coordinator in terms of educational background:

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantActivity Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs activity coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between therapeutic recreation assistants' and activity coordinators' demographics:

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantActivity Coordinator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 26.0% Female, 74.0%Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.2% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between therapeutic recreation assistant and activity coordinator duties and responsibilities

Therapeutic recreation assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage one-on-one and group social and physical sessions with long-term nursing and short-term rehabilitation residents
  • PAR train & CPR certify.
  • Used CPR skills and other medical skills to treat many different situations.
  • Specialize in the Alzheimer's lock care unit and plan daily therapeutic activities for residents.
  • Coordinate and aid in the daily physical and mental stimulation of people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
  • Direct psychiatric intervention with adolescent psychiatric and criminally-incline patients in the form of group and individual counseling and teaching sessions.
  • Show more

Activity coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage safety accident reports and ensure that all staff is CPR and a certified.
  • Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
  • Direct and implement recreational programs, including adult and youth sports, aquatics, community center and special events.
  • Assist clients in reaching their ISP goals.
  • Specialize with the ADL's for residents with dementia.
  • Assist clients with personal care or ADL's as needed.
  • Show more

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs activity coordinator skills

Common therapeutic recreation assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Autism, 11%
  • Compassion, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Data Entry, 7%
Common activity coordinator skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Patients, 20%
  • CPR, 12%
  • PowerPoint, 3%
  • Memory Care, 3%
  • Front Desk, 3%

Browse personal care and attendants jobs