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Salary comparison

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

Recreation Workers out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Amusement and Recreation Attendants land at $32,150 and Recreation Workers at $36,560. The education gap is real: amusement and recreation attendant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while recreation worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Amusement and Recreation Attendants is Alaska ($45,680); for Recreation Workers it's District of Columbia ($46,460).

Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Recreation Workers
Median salary
$32,150
$36,560
Hourly rate
$15.46/hr
$17.58/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$22,350
$27,600
Senior level (90th %)
$42,490
$50,410
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
397,830
331,490
Job growth (10-year)
3.4%
4.1%
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
Recreation Workers
Alaska
$45,680
$37,510
Hawaii
$39,920
$41,000
District of Columbia
$37,960
$46,460
Washington
$37,790
$44,890
California
$37,000
$39,780
Maryland
$36,710
$37,200
New York
$36,300
$38,040
Colorado
$35,770
$38,820
Oregon
$35,400
$39,610
Maine
$35,330
$37,450
Vermont
$35,290
$37,450
Massachusetts
$34,440
$38,540
Minnesota
$30,830
$37,510
South Dakota
$29,730
$42,270
North Dakota
$28,070
$37,310

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

Common questions

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

Recreation Workers earn more nationally. The median is $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants versus $36,560 for Recreation Workers, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Recreation Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 4.1% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Amusement and Recreation Attendants typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Recreation 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. Recreation Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Amusement and Recreation Attendants earn $45,680 vs. $37,510 for Recreation Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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