Amusement and Recreation Attendants earn a median of $32,150 per year ($15.46/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 100,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 39-3091
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Amusement and Recreation Attendant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $32,150a year, or $15.46/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $22KTop 10% $42K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 100,400408,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025408.4K
- Projected 2035423.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 408.4K Projected 2035 423.6K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school64.2%
- High school31.9%
- Associate's2.5%
- Bachelor's1.4%
Highest education held by amusement and recreation attendants Segment Value Less than high school 64.2% High school 31.9% Associate's 2.5% Bachelor's 1.4%
Also advertised as: Activities Attendant, Coaster Attendant, Golf Course Ranger, Golf Course Starter, Recreation Aide, Recreation Attendant.
Pay
How much do Amusement and Recreation Attendants make?
Every amusement and recreation attendant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$32,150
Middle half earn $27,660 to $36,590
- 10th
- $22,350
- 25th
- $27,660
- 75th
- $36,590
- 90th
- $42,490
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $22,350 |
| 25th | $27,660 |
| Median | $32,150 |
| 75th | $36,590 |
| 90th | $42,490 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $32,150
- Median hourly wage
- $15.46/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $32,640
- People employed
- 397,830
Versus all US occupations
At $32,150, Amusement and Recreation Attendants earn 37% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $18,830 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $42,490 or more while the bottom 10% earn $22,350, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 0% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $45,680, and still leads at $44,627 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Amusement and Recreation Attendants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $45,680 | $44,627 | 340 |
| 2Hawaii | $39,920 | $36,307 | 3,950 |
| 3District of Columbia | $37,960 | $34,540 | 200 |
| 4Washington | $37,790 | $35,313 | 7,000 |
| 5California | $37,000 | $33,418 | 56,920 |
| 6Maryland | $36,710 | $34,976 | 9,200 |
| 7New York | $36,300 | $33,636 | 14,620 |
| 8Colorado | $35,770 | $34,711 | 10,820 |
| 9U.S. Virgin Islands | $35,570 | N/A | 70 |
| 10Oregon | $35,400 | $34,249 | 3,150 |
Job outlook
Is Amusement and Recreation Attendant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Amusement and Recreation Attendants to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 15,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100,400 openings are projected each year, 24.6% of the 408,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Amusement and Recreation Attendant
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as amusement and recreation attendants.
- Less than a High School Diploma64.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)31.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree2.5%
- Bachelor's Degree1.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 64.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 31.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 2.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 1.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Amusement and Recreation Attendant do?
Perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. May schedule use of recreation facilities, maintain and provide equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, or operate amusement concessions and rides.
Day-to-day tasks
- Provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations.
- 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.
- Sell tickets and collect fees from customers.
- Direct patrons to rides, seats, or attractions.
- Keep informed of shut-down and emergency evacuation procedures.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayStrict deadlines are rare.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.3
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Writing2.5
- Reading Comprehension2.4
- Active Learning2.4
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Time Management2.6
- Persuasion2.4
- Operations Monitoring2.4
- Operation and Control2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Time Management | 2.6 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.4 |
| Operation and Control | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop publishing software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Amusement and Recreation Attendant?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Amusement and Recreation Attendant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Conventional4.7
- Social4.3
- Realistic4.2
- Enterprising3.8
- Artistic1.7
- Investigative1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Amusement and Recreation Attendant
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendant
$36,300median a year
Most earn $27K to $54K
+6.4%High school - Personal Care and Service
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Sales and Related
- Personal Care and Service
Usher, Lobby Attendant, and Ticket Taker
$32,910median a year
Most earn $24K to $42K
+0.9%No formal credential - Transportation and Material Moving
Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover, Hand
$40,240median a year
Most earn $31K to $55K
+1.8%No formal credential
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with amusement and recreation attendants highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant$32,150
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendant | $32,150 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Amusement and Recreation Attendant appears on
Questions
Amusement and Recreation Attendant: frequently asked questions
How much do Amusement and Recreation Attendants make?
Amusement and Recreation Attendants earn a median of $32,150 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 37% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $15.46/hr. The middle half earn between $27,660 and $36,590. The top 10% earn $42,490 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Amusement and Recreation Attendant?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 64.2% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Amusement and Recreation Attendant a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Amusement and Recreation Attendant do?
Perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. A core O*NET task: provide information about facilities, entertainment options, and rules and regulations. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Amusement and Recreation Attendants the most?
The highest state medians for Amusement and Recreation Attendants are Alaska ($45,680), Hawaii ($39,920), District of Columbia ($37,960) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Amusement and Recreation Attendant?
O*NET scores Amusement and Recreation Attendants highest on the Conventional, Social and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.