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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $40,536/year, better purchasing power than San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's higher nominal pay of $44,760. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$44,760
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$44,250
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$42,860

Best purchasing power

#1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$40,536
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$39,818
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$37,073

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$44,760
$40,536
#2
$44,250
$39,818
#3
$42,860
$37,073
#4
$36,550
$36,971
#5
Greensboro-High Point
47% rent burden
$33,650
$36,237
#6
$36,710
$36,040
#7
Spokane-Spokane Valley
38% rent burden
$36,080
$35,954
#8
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
64% rent burden
$36,680
$35,381
#9
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
89% rent burden
$38,090
$35,341
#10
$37,640
$35,286
#11
Modesto
58% rent burden
$36,680
$35,232
#12
Kansas City
50% rent burden
$32,480
$35,098
#13
Roanoke
46% rent burden
$32,720
$34,950
#14
Ann Arbor
57% rent burden
$35,090
$34,784
#15
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
48% rent burden
$33,270
$34,714
#16
Syracuse
50% rent burden
$33,220
$34,698
#17
Bakersfield-Delano
51% rent burden
$34,920
$34,612
#18
Fort Wayne
42% rent burden
$31,930
$34,493
#19
Fresno
57% rent burden
$35,140
$34,397
#20
$34,200
$34,348
#21
Rochester
57% rent burden
$33,250
$34,268
#22
Sioux Falls
45% rent burden
$30,990
$34,194
#23
$38,310
$34,035
#24
$34,150
$34,000
#25
Stockton-Lodi
59% rent burden
$35,680
$33,952

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 Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $44,760 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $37,300 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 ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers 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 Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss?

Spokane-Spokane Valley has one of the lowest rent burdens for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,131/month, with a median salary of $36,080.

Where do Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays the highest nominal median salary at $44,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakerssView →How to become a ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →