The median pay for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is $79,520 a year ($38.23/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% through 2035, with about 5,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-9072
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling in four numbers
- Median pay
- $79,520a year, or $38.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $139K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,10043,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202543.9K
- Projected 203546.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 43.9K Projected 2035 46.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Aquatic Program Manager, Camp Director, Events Manager, Golf Course Manager, Ice Arena Director, Park Manager.
Pay
How much do Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling make?
Every entertainment and recreation manager, except gambling in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$79,520
Middle half earn $61,060 to $104,770
- 10th
- $46,270
- 25th
- $61,060
- 75th
- $104,770
- 90th
- $139,110
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,270 |
| 25th | $61,060 |
| Median | $79,520 |
| 75th | $104,770 |
| 90th | $139,110 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $79,520
- Median hourly wage
- $38.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $89,750
- People employed
- 37,980
Versus all US occupations
At $79,520, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn 56% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $28,540 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 37% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $139,110 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,270, a gap of 3.0×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 59% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($113,930), but once local prices are taken into account Minnesota leads at $109,165 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $113,930 | $103,666 | 30 |
| 2Minnesota | $107,660 | $109,165 | 480 |
| 3New York | $98,390 | $91,169 | 1,330 |
| 4Colorado | $97,000 | $94,127 | 940 |
| 5Washington | $96,790 | $90,447 | 630 |
| 6Idaho | $95,020 | $99,504 | 110 |
| 7Vermont | $92,320 | $94,244 | 270 |
| 8New Jersey | $89,590 | $82,340 | 2,260 |
| 9Massachusetts | $89,450 | $84,581 | 1,030 |
| 10Wyoming | $88,790 | $95,791 | 70 |
Job outlook
Is Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | +6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling to change 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,100 openings are projected each year, 11.6% of the 43,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment growth will stem from public interest in recreational activities, such as golf and pickleball. In addition, an increased emphasis on the importance of lifelong well-being is expected to create demand for entertainment and recreation managers in a variety of settings, including country clubs, fitness centers, and parks.
Getting in
How to become an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling
Requirements vary for becoming an entertainment or recreation manager. Some workers typically need a bachelor’s degree, while others enter the occupation with a high school diploma. Work experience is also important.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks.
Entertainment and recreation managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities and operations related to fitness and leisure.
Day-to-day tasks
- Talk to customers to convey information about events or activities.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding worker performance or services rendered.
- Explain rules and regulations of facilities and entertainment attractions to customers.
- Talk to coworkers using electronic devices, such as computers and radios.
- Train workers in company procedures or policy.
- Assign tasks and work hours to staff.
- Calculate and record department expenses and revenue.
- Administer first aid in emergency situations.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most entertainment and recreation managers work full time. Work schedules may vary and can include nights, weekends, and holidays. Managers may need to work extra hours during peak season, such as for summer vacations at a resort. Some entertainment and recreation managers must be on call in case of emergencies, such as power outages during severe weather.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending 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 dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals20%
- Fitness and recreational sports centers15%
- Self-employed workers8%
- Accommodation and food services6%
- Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 20% |
| Fitness and recreational sports centers | 15% |
| Self-employed workers | 8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 6% |
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Writing3.5
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Instructing3.6
- Service Orientation3.6
- Persuasion3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“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 Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.3
- Conventional5.0
- Social3.9
- Realistic3.4
- Artistic2.0
- Investigative2.0
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 Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Management
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Management
- Educational Instruction and Library
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher, Postsecondary
$77,270median a year
Most earn $45K to $135K
+2.2%Doctorate
More management careers
Median annual pay, with entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling$79,520
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling | $79,520 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within entertainment and recreation manager, except gambling
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling appears on
Questions
Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling: frequently asked questions
How much do Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling make?
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn a median of $79,520 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 56% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.23/hr. The middle half earn between $61,060 and $104,770. The top 10% earn $139,110 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first.
Is Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling do?
Entertainment and recreation managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities and operations related to fitness and leisure. A core O*NET task: talk to customers to convey information about events or activities. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Cloud-based data access and sharing software.
Which states pay Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling the most?
The highest state medians for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling are District of Columbia ($113,930), Minnesota ($107,660), New York ($98,390) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Minnesota moves to the top at $109,165.
What personality type suits an Entertainment and Recreation Manager, Except Gambling?
O*NET scores Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.