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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Amusement and Recreation Attendants the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Kahului-Wailuku ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $44,812/year, better purchasing power than Kahului-Wailuku's higher nominal pay of $49,020. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Kahului-Wailuku$49,020
#2 Anchorage$45,780
#3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$42,850

Best purchasing power

#1 Kahului-Wailuku$44,812
#2 Anchorage$43,426
#3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$38,806

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed amusement and recreation attendants excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Kahului-Wailuku
65% rent burden
$49,020
$44,812
#2
Anchorage
40% rent burden
$45,780
$43,426
#3
$42,850
$38,806
#4
Pittsfield
61% rent burden
$34,960
$36,757
#5
Yakima
45% rent burden
$34,670
$36,285
#6
St. Cloud
47% rent burden
$31,520
$35,969
#7
Barnstable Town
85% rent burden
$35,280
$35,872
#8
Merced
52% rent burden
$35,090
$35,704
#9
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
55% rent burden
$36,500
$35,631
#10
Utica-Rome
44% rent burden
$32,970
$35,574
#11
Vallejo
73% rent burden
$38,580
$35,564
#12
Kennewick-Richland
50% rent burden
$35,510
$35,482
#13
$35,760
$35,423
#14
$39,330
$35,391
#15
Boulder
66% rent burden
$37,140
$35,304
#16
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
51% rent burden
$33,730
$35,194
#17
$35,810
$35,156
#18
$32,580
$35,142
#19
Hanford-Corcoran
51% rent burden
$35,660
$35,095
#20
Duluth
46% rent burden
$31,150
$35,091
#21
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
90% rent burden
$37,760
$35,034
#22
Waterbury-Shelton
60% rent burden
$34,870
$34,947
#23
$38,000
$34,901
#24
Columbia
37% rent burden
$31,200
$34,884
#25
Glens Falls
49% rent burden
$33,080
$34,869

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $49,020 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $40,850 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A amusement and recreation attendants in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Columbia has one of the lowest rent burdens for Amusement and Recreation Attendants in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $962/month, with a median salary of $31,200.

Where do Amusement and Recreation Attendants get paid the most in nominal terms?

Kahului-Wailuku pays the highest nominal median salary at $49,020/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Amusement and Recreation AttendantsView →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →