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The differences between volunteer services directors and activity assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a volunteer services director, becoming an activity assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a volunteer services director has an average salary of $54,005, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a volunteer services director include patients, community outreach and child care. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Volunteer Services Director | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $54,005 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $25.96 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 58,301 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A volunteer services director specializes in devising and designing volunteer programs for an organization. They are primarily responsible for overseeing the recruitment and hiring process of volunteers, training, and even scheduling the work hours of volunteers. As the director, it is their role to spearhead the project and encourage volunteers. Moreover, they are also in charge of ensuring that all activities are completed within the allotted time and budget, maintaining the programs' mission and vision, and implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Volunteer services directors and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Volunteer Services Director | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $54,005 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $90,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a volunteer services director and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Volunteer Services Director | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between volunteer services directors' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Volunteer Services Director | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 14% | 11% |