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Therapeutic recreation assistant vs recreation specialist

The differences between therapeutic recreation assistants and recreation specialists 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 a recreation specialist. Additionally, a recreation specialist has an average salary of $39,186, 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 a recreation specialist are CPR, customer service, and recreation programs.

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs recreation specialist overview

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantRecreation Specialist
Yearly salary$25,481$39,186
Hourly rate$12.25$18.84
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs3,8733,288
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs recreation specialist salary

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

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantRecreation Specialist
Average salary$25,481$39,186
Salary rangeBetween $16,000 And $39,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Loveland, CO
Highest paying state-Mississippi
Best paying company-Harlem Children's Zone
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between therapeutic recreation assistant and recreation specialist education

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

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantRecreation Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorPsychologyKinesiology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityNorthwestern University

Therapeutic recreation assistant vs recreation specialist demographics

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

Therapeutic Recreation AssistantRecreation Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 26.0% Female, 74.0%Male, 48.7% Female, 51.3%
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, 12.6% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between therapeutic recreation assistant and recreation specialist 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.
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Recreation specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide evidence base intervention to help manage behavior in children diagnose with ADHD.
  • Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities such as bingo cards, machines, and markers.
  • Manage funds and resources to include developing the annual NAF budget, which include submission and prioritization of program component requirements.
  • Manage the maintenance of post MWR relate administrative records and submit program status reports in accordance with establish contractual requirements.
  • Register customers for programs and take facility reservations.
  • Base leadership recognize program for triple increase in membership and decrease in teen relate incidents requiring military police involvement.
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Therapeutic recreation assistant vs recreation specialist skills

Common therapeutic recreation assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Autism, 11%
  • Compassion, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Data Entry, 7%
Common recreation specialist skills
  • CPR, 22%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Recreation Programs, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%

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