Amusement and recreation attendants salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22,350 | $10.75 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Mean (average) | $32,640 | $15.69 |
| 90th percentile | $42,490 | $20.43 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Amusement and recreation attendants pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23,210 | $17,270 | $34,080 | 6,740 | 1.25 |
| Alaska | $45,680 | $32,720 | $54,500 | 340 | 0.4 |
| Arizona | $33,570 | $30,790 | $45,010 | 6,930 | 0.84 |
| Arkansas | $26,850 | $23,470 | $30,510 | 2,250 | 0.67 |
| California | $37,000 | $34,440 | $45,050 | 56,920 | 1.22 |
| Colorado | $35,770 | $30,880 | $46,950 | 10,820 | 1.47 |
| Connecticut | $34,860 | $34,010 | $45,030 | 2,440 | 0.56 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | $31,200 | $35,900 | 1,360 | 1.1 |
| District of Columbia | $37,960 | $36,400 | $43,220 | 200 | 0.11 |
| Florida | $30,670 | $27,390 | $38,540 | 45,540 | 1.79 |
| Georgia | $26,120 | $17,600 | $36,240 | 8,770 | 0.7 |
| Guam | $21,050 | $20,060 | $25,730 | 200 | 1.16 |
| Hawaii | $39,920 | $29,430 | $55,310 | 3,950 | 2.46 |
| Idaho | $30,530 | $21,900 | $39,000 | 2,010 | 0.92 |
| Illinois | $32,770 | $31,200 | $38,520 | 11,660 | 0.75 |
| Indiana | $27,680 | $20,490 | $36,410 | 6,740 | 0.82 |
| Iowa | $27,430 | $21,340 | $34,750 | 5,050 | 1.26 |
| Kansas | $26,410 | $20,930 | $40,560 | 4,240 | 1.15 |
| Kentucky | $27,210 | $18,150 | $40,950 | 3,190 | 0.62 |
| Louisiana | $22,680 | $18,450 | $30,380 | 2,850 | 0.58 |
| Maine | $35,330 | $30,800 | $44,240 | 1,230 | 0.75 |
| Maryland | $36,710 | $31,200 | $44,860 | 9,200 | 1.3 |
| Massachusetts | $34,440 | $31,200 | $38,840 | 5,460 | 0.59 |
| Michigan | $28,580 | $25,960 | $37,500 | 11,720 | 1.04 |
| Minnesota | $30,830 | $23,920 | $44,240 | 7,880 | 1.04 |
| Mississippi | $23,160 | $17,590 | $28,640 | 2,400 | 0.81 |
| Missouri | $29,790 | $28,600 | $37,470 | 8,080 | 1.08 |
| Montana | $29,710 | $23,300 | $39,340 | 1,890 | 1.44 |
| Nebraska | $30,110 | $28,080 | $38,970 | 2,620 | 1 |
| Nevada | $29,940 | $24,960 | $41,440 | 7,680 | 1.93 |
| New Hampshire | $31,210 | $22,580 | $42,870 | 1,220 | 0.7 |
| New Jersey | $34,500 | $32,220 | $40,110 | 14,060 | 1.28 |
| New Mexico | $29,160 | $26,450 | $38,670 | 1,700 | 0.76 |
| New York | $36,300 | $32,240 | $48,390 | 14,620 | 0.59 |
| North Carolina | $26,680 | $18,130 | $37,380 | 14,120 | 1.12 |
| North Dakota | $28,070 | $23,950 | $36,030 | 1,430 | 1.3 |
| Ohio | $26,980 | $22,500 | $35,330 | 11,780 | 0.83 |
| Oklahoma | $22,040 | $17,670 | $32,560 | 2,430 | 0.56 |
| Oregon | $35,400 | $31,210 | $42,020 | 3,150 | 0.63 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,090 | $19,200 | $36,670 | 17,470 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,210 | $21,840 | $22,900 | 980 | 0.41 |
| Rhode Island | $31,220 | $31,200 | $43,880 | 760 | 0.59 |
| South Carolina | $27,040 | $17,890 | $39,260 | 8,740 | 1.48 |
| South Dakota | $29,730 | $26,730 | $35,440 | 1,850 | 1.58 |
| Tennessee | $28,690 | $21,060 | $37,310 | 4,820 | 0.57 |
| Texas | $26,570 | $20,140 | $36,500 | 28,360 | 0.79 |
| Utah | $28,000 | $19,830 | $44,230 | 6,960 | 1.57 |
| Vermont | $35,290 | $30,670 | $44,680 | 800 | 1.04 |
| Virgin Islands | $35,570 | $28,830 | $46,750 | 70 | 0.79 |
| Virginia | $30,910 | $25,900 | $44,830 | 9,390 | 0.89 |
| Washington | $37,790 | $34,790 | $47,980 | 7,000 | 0.77 |
| West Virginia | $25,230 | $20,910 | $37,830 | 800 | 0.45 |
| Wisconsin | $30,180 | $20,630 | $47,050 | 5,450 | 0.72 |
| Wyoming | $28,660 | $21,130 | $46,380 | 760 | 1.06 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for amusement and recreation attendants
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for amusement and recreation attendants
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Sell tickets and collect fees from customers.
- Provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations.
- Keep informed of shut-down and emergency evacuation procedures.
- Direct patrons to rides, seats, or attractions.
- Monitor activities to ensure adherence to rules and safety procedures, or arrange for the removal of unruly patrons.
- Record details of attendance, sales, receipts, reservations, or repair activities.
- Maintain inventories of equipment, storing and retrieving items and assembling and disassembling equipment as necessary.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Adobe PageMaker
- Database software
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Activities Attendant, Coaster Attendant, Golf Course Ranger, Golf Course Starter, Recreation Aide, Recreation Attendant, Recreation Clerk, Ride Operator, Ski Lift Operator, Sports Complex Attendant.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do amusement and recreation attendants make?
The national median annual wage for amusement and recreation attendants was $32,150 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $22,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $42,490. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do amusement and recreation attendants need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is amusement and recreation attendants a growing career?
BLS projects employment of amusement and recreation attendants to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay amusement and recreation attendants the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($45,680), Hawaii ($39,920), District of Columbia ($37,960). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.