Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,520 | $38.23 |
| Mean (average) | $89,750 | $43.15 |
| 90th percentile | $139,110 | $66.88 |
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
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,540 | $62,190 | $77,720 | 190 | 0.37 |
| Alaska | $70,700 | $53,430 | $135,210 | 120 | 1.49 |
| Arizona | $76,550 | $42,300 | $149,850 | 880 | 1.11 |
| Arkansas | $49,640 | $35,010 | $91,070 | 230 | 0.73 |
| California | $79,550 | $47,370 | $165,870 | 7,000 | 1.57 |
| Colorado | $97,000 | $60,380 | $167,270 | 940 | 1.34 |
| Connecticut | $78,010 | $62,400 | $129,190 | 130 | 0.31 |
| District of Columbia | $113,930 | $60,430 | $166,430 | 30 | 0.2 |
| Florida | $83,520 | $45,480 | $162,030 | 2,620 | 1.08 |
| Georgia | $83,470 | $52,000 | $143,670 | 830 | 0.7 |
| Hawaii | $81,160 | $50,820 | $107,740 | 50 | 0.35 |
| Idaho | $95,020 | $54,920 | $135,730 | 110 | 0.53 |
| Illinois | $77,310 | $45,450 | $121,720 | 3,260 | 2.19 |
| Indiana | $62,760 | $40,900 | $112,640 | 340 | 0.44 |
| Iowa | $68,320 | $41,690 | $110,010 | 620 | 1.64 |
| Kansas | $69,990 | $49,570 | $118,940 | 100 | 0.29 |
| Kentucky | $80,130 | $40,300 | $137,890 | 300 | 0.61 |
| Louisiana | $62,390 | $45,230 | $101,660 | 90 | 0.2 |
| Maine | $82,780 | $74,180 | $193,910 | 70 | 0.46 |
| Maryland | $81,220 | $42,170 | $148,690 | 940 | 1.39 |
| Massachusetts | $89,450 | $55,540 | $132,740 | 1,030 | 1.15 |
| Michigan | $65,890 | $40,970 | $111,480 | 1,670 | 1.56 |
| Minnesota | $107,660 | $75,070 | $157,060 | 480 | 0.67 |
| Mississippi | $67,670 | $41,200 | $100,210 | 90 | 0.33 |
| Missouri | $83,620 | $48,740 | $130,830 | 370 | 0.52 |
| Nebraska | $63,270 | $41,970 | $105,470 | 310 | 1.25 |
| Nevada | $82,370 | $35,410 | $130,010 | 410 | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $80,090 | $60,010 | $122,460 | 170 | 1.03 |
| New Jersey | $89,590 | $62,500 | $161,580 | 2,260 | 2.16 |
| New Mexico | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.39 | ||
| New York | $98,390 | $60,780 | $141,810 | 1,330 | 0.56 |
| North Carolina | $77,990 | $47,660 | $136,160 | 1,200 | 0.99 |
| Ohio | $58,440 | $39,760 | $98,250 | 1,280 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $78,420 | $36,380 | $129,260 | 100 | 0.23 |
| Oregon | $78,200 | $49,400 | $136,410 | 930 | 1.94 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,990 | $47,730 | $109,400 | 1,220 | 0.83 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,260 | $31,710 | $56,970 | 120 | 0.53 |
| Rhode Island | $88,750 | $38,840 | $124,680 | 40 | 0.3 |
| South Carolina | $79,110 | $47,770 | $133,150 | 440 | 0.78 |
| South Dakota | $76,000 | $56,720 | $107,720 | 160 | 1.4 |
| Tennessee | $70,530 | $54,490 | $129,120 | 540 | 0.67 |
| Texas | $78,500 | $37,890 | $131,060 | 2,880 | 0.84 |
| Utah | $79,400 | $44,210 | $140,780 | 370 | 0.86 |
| Vermont | $92,320 | $56,390 | $132,840 | 270 | 3.65 |
| Virginia | $74,800 | $48,920 | $149,080 | 310 | 0.31 |
| Washington | $96,790 | $71,590 | $183,100 | 630 | 0.73 |
| West Virginia | $47,310 | $38,940 | $71,180 | 100 | 0.57 |
| Wisconsin | $77,140 | $39,990 | $174,980 | 170 | 0.24 |
| Wyoming | $88,790 | $66,010 | $126,990 | 70 | 1.08 |
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 entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do 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
- Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism CIP 03.0207
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General CIP 31.0301
- Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management CIP 31.0302
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other CIP 31.0399
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management CIP 31.0504
- Business/Commerce, General CIP 52.0101
- Business Administration and Management, General CIP 52.0201
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General CIP 52.0901
- Resort Management CIP 52.0906
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Write budgets to plan recreational activities or programs.
- Talk to coworkers using electronic devices, such as computers and radios.
- Talk to customers to convey information about events or activities.
- Plan programs of events or schedules of activities.
- Explain rules and regulations of facilities and entertainment attractions to customers.
- Calculate and record department expenses and revenue.
- Interview and hire associates to fill staff vacancies.
- Assign tasks and work hours to staff.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Atlassian Confluence (hot technology)
- Cisco Webex (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- HubSpot software (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Marketo Marketing Automation (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Instructing, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Aquatic Program Manager, Camp Director, Events Manager, Golf Course Manager, Ice Arena Director, Park Manager, Recreation Director, Recreation Manager, Recreation Superintendent, Social Activities Director.
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 entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling make?
The national median annual wage for entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling was $79,520 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,270 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $139,110. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling a growing career?
BLS projects employment of entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling to change +6.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($113,930), Minnesota ($107,660), New York ($98,390). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.