Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23,560 | $11.33 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| Mean (average) | $33,080 | $15.91 |
| 90th percentile | $42,470 | $20.42 |
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
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22,360 | $19,150 | $31,840 | 770 | 0.47 |
| Alaska | $34,680 | $28,040 | $49,420 | 180 | 0.7 |
| Arizona | $32,510 | $30,580 | $37,560 | 3,540 | 1.4 |
| Arkansas | $28,050 | $23,810 | $37,430 | 340 | 0.33 |
| California | $37,870 | $34,970 | $46,070 | 16,460 | 1.15 |
| Colorado | $38,380 | $31,090 | $39,110 | 2,960 | 1.31 |
| Connecticut | $34,940 | $34,010 | $39,880 | 1,130 | 0.85 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | $31,200 | $36,920 | 200 | 0.53 |
| District of Columbia | $37,930 | $36,400 | $46,330 | 770 | 1.41 |
| Florida | $29,130 | $27,610 | $35,580 | 9,300 | 1.2 |
| Georgia | $30,820 | $21,150 | $36,150 | 2,960 | 0.77 |
| Guam | $20,860 | $19,240 | $23,710 | 70 | 1.41 |
| Hawaii | $30,640 | $29,120 | $46,240 | 540 | 1.1 |
| Idaho | $29,360 | $22,880 | $35,120 | 700 | 1.04 |
| Illinois | $34,560 | $31,200 | $38,600 | 5,160 | 1.08 |
| Indiana | $27,440 | $20,760 | $44,420 | 1,930 | 0.77 |
| Iowa | $25,720 | $21,390 | $33,220 | 750 | 0.61 |
| Kansas | $26,690 | $22,590 | $64,300 | 490 | 0.44 |
| Kentucky | $25,930 | $18,720 | $33,100 | 1,110 | 0.71 |
| Louisiana | $27,750 | $21,750 | $34,790 | 870 | 0.58 |
| Maine | $35,850 | $30,470 | $44,980 | 400 | 0.79 |
| Maryland | $34,020 | $31,200 | $39,260 | 1,770 | 0.82 |
| Massachusetts | $33,940 | $32,150 | $43,270 | 2,270 | 0.8 |
| Michigan | $30,530 | $25,960 | $37,330 | 3,170 | 0.92 |
| Minnesota | $33,480 | $24,130 | $35,460 | 1,880 | 0.81 |
| Mississippi | $21,570 | $18,720 | $27,450 | 610 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | $32,350 | $28,600 | $36,570 | 3,010 | 1.31 |
| Montana | $34,420 | $22,510 | $39,120 | ||
| Nebraska | $28,260 | $28,080 | $37,110 | 510 | 0.64 |
| Nevada | $30,110 | $28,150 | $43,880 | 3,210 | 2.64 |
| New Hampshire | $33,970 | $28,430 | $46,300 | 190 | 0.36 |
| New Jersey | $35,990 | $32,220 | $38,750 | 3,030 | 0.9 |
| New Mexico | $28,230 | $26,900 | $29,510 | 570 | 0.83 |
| New York | $37,110 | $33,220 | $45,960 | 6,910 | 0.91 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 | $22,320 | $33,800 | 5,390 | 1.39 |
| North Dakota | $27,840 | $20,290 | $37,190 | 200 | 0.58 |
| Ohio | $28,540 | $23,400 | $35,740 | 3,730 | 0.86 |
| Oklahoma | $26,260 | $21,370 | $34,100 | 1,450 | 1.08 |
| Oregon | $34,110 | $30,720 | $42,230 | 1,100 | 0.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,130 | $21,310 | $36,750 | 4,330 | 0.91 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $22,650 | 650 | 0.89 |
| Rhode Island | $34,040 | $31,200 | $42,780 | 340 | 0.86 |
| South Carolina | $26,490 | $20,800 | $39,520 | 1,300 | 0.72 |
| South Dakota | $29,430 | $26,710 | $31,000 | 320 | 0.9 |
| Tennessee | $30,550 | $23,080 | $36,070 | 2,380 | 0.93 |
| Texas | $26,610 | $20,150 | $36,120 | 12,270 | 1.11 |
| Utah | $26,650 | $22,760 | $41,160 | 1,340 | 0.99 |
| Virginia | $28,580 | $26,720 | $34,140 | 3,130 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $41,010 | $35,380 | $48,410 | 4,070 | 1.46 |
| West Virginia | $23,400 | $18,730 | $28,350 | 300 | 0.55 |
| Wisconsin | $28,780 | $22,340 | $36,460 | 2,100 | 0.91 |
| Wyoming | $27,800 | $21,320 | $36,750 | 120 | 0.53 |
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 ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 27,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
- 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 or collect admission tickets, passes, or facility memberships from patrons at entertainment events.
- Clean facilities.
- Provide assistance with patrons' special needs, such as helping those with wheelchairs.
- Maintain order and ensure adherence to safety rules.
- Examine tickets or passes to verify authenticity, using criteria such as color or date issued.
- Refuse admittance to undesirable persons or persons without tickets or passes.
- Guide patrons to exits or provide other instructions or assistance in case of emergency.
- Greet patrons attending entertainment events.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows Mobile
- Ticket Alternative Express Entry
- Ticket scanning software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Lobby Attendant, Theater Attendant, Theatre Usher, Ticket Attendant, Ticket Taker, Usher, Visitor Services Assistant, Visitor Services Associate, Visitor Services Representative, Visitor Services Specialist.
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 ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers make?
The national median annual wage for ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers was $32,910 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $23,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $42,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers 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 ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers to change +0.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 27,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($41,010), Colorado ($38,380), District of Columbia ($37,930). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.