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Salary comparison

Amusement and Recreation Attendants vs. Childcare Workers: Who Earns More?

Childcare Workers out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Amusement and Recreation Attendants land at $32,150 and Childcare Workers at $34,980. The education gap is real: amusement and recreation attendant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while childcare worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Amusement and Recreation Attendants is Alaska ($45,680); for Childcare Workers it's District of Columbia ($47,340).

Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Childcare Workers
Median salary
$32,150
$34,980
Hourly rate
$15.46/hr
$16.82/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$22,350
$24,260
Senior level (90th %)
$42,490
$46,010
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
397,830
518,910
Job growth (10-year)
3.4%
-2.9%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Alaska
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Amusement and Recreation Attendants median pay.

State
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Childcare Workers
Alaska
$45,680
$36,200
Hawaii
$39,920
$37,030
District of Columbia
$37,960
$47,340
Washington
$37,790
$41,680
California
$37,000
$40,020
New York
$36,300
$37,590
Colorado
$35,770
$40,750
Oregon
$35,400
$38,650
Maine
$35,330
$36,350
Vermont
$35,290
$38,030
Connecticut
$34,860
$36,660
New Jersey
$34,500
$36,390
Massachusetts
$34,440
$40,900
Rhode Island
$31,220
$36,940
New Hampshire
$31,210
$37,080

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Amusement and Recreation Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Childcare Workers earn more nationally. The median is $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants versus $34,980 for Childcare Workers, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Amusement and Recreation Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 3.4% projected growth, compared to -2.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Amusement and Recreation Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Childcare Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Amusement and Recreation Attendants get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $45,680/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Amusement and Recreation Attendants vs. Childcare Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Amusement and Recreation Attendants earn $45,680 vs. $36,200 for Childcare Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Full Childcare Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Childcare Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →How to become a childcare workersGuide →