I was never a fan of the Zombie subgenra of horror. So, I don't see Jason as ever being a Zombie, just a human character from the traditional slasher genra formula.
Now, the formula between Zombie and slashers are similar in that we are dealing with characters that come back from the dead.
However, slasher films in the past were much more popular than Zombie movies, but in the present, the Zombie Genra of horror is much more popular than all slashers, past and present.
I was an avid reader of Fangoria magazine in the 1980's, and I knew that the popular zombie movies were covered well, but I was only interested in the slasher villains like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers.
I am curious about why Zombie movies and TV shows are so popular with fans outside of the horror genra proper today.
First it was witches.
Then Vampires.
Now it's the Zombie Craze.
I don't know why these characters appeal to general audiences overall especially with young people who don't identify as horror fans specifically.
But, I grew up as a slasher fan, and that I will always be!