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Salary comparison

Airfield Operations Specialists vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants: Who Earns More?

Airfield Operations Specialists out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $25K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Airfield Operations Specialists land at $56,850 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: airfield operations specialist programs typically require no formal educational credential, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Airfield Operations Specialists is Kentucky ($123,290); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Airfield Operations Specialists
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$56,850
$32,150
Hourly rate
$27.33/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,870
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$102,120
$42,490
Education required
No formal educational credential
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
15,190
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
4.2%
3.4%
Category
Transportation
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Kentucky
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Airfield Operations Specialists median pay.

State
Airfield Operations Specialists
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Washington
$84,050
$37,790
Arizona
$77,570
$33,570
Colorado
$77,500
$35,770
Oregon
$75,130
$35,400
Virginia
$72,250
$30,910
Alaska
$71,510
$45,680
California
$62,600
$37,000
Idaho
$62,510
$30,530
Nevada
$61,350
$29,940
Florida
$57,650
$30,670
Massachusetts
$56,020
$34,440
New Jersey
$42,480
$34,500
New York
$42,000
$36,300
Missouri
$40,360
$29,790
Wisconsin
$39,400
$30,180

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Airfield Operations Specialists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Airfield Operations Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $56,850 for Airfield Operations Specialists versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $25K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Airfield Operations Specialists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Airfield Operations Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Airfield Operations Specialists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Airfield Operations Specialists typically requires no formal educational credential. Amusement and Recreation Attendants requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Airfield Operations Specialists get paid the most?

Kentucky is the top-paying state for Airfield Operations Specialists at $123,290/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Airfield Operations Specialists vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Airfield Operations Specialists earn $84,050 vs. $37,790 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →