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Salary comparison

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

Costume Attendants out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $18K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Costume Attendants land at $50,400 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: costume attendant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Costume Attendants is New York ($95,230); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Costume Attendants
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$50,400
$32,150
Hourly rate
$24.23/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$32,150
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$109,520
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
6,510
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
5.9%
3.4%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
New York
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Costume Attendants median pay.

State
Costume Attendants
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
New York
$95,230
$36,300
California
$72,030
$37,000
Washington
$64,650
$37,790
Colorado
$57,960
$35,770
Hawaii
$57,660
$39,920
Massachusetts
$55,190
$34,440
District of Columbia
$53,290
$37,960
Minnesota
$52,000
$30,830
Oregon
$51,680
$35,400
Illinois
$49,170
$32,770
Virginia
$46,790
$30,910
New Jersey
$45,010
$34,500
Connecticut
$44,550
$34,860
Florida
$40,680
$30,670
Arizona
$37,430
$33,570

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

Common questions

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

Costume Attendants earn more nationally. The median is $50,400 for Costume Attendants versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $18K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Costume Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 5.9% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

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

Where do Costume Attendants get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Costume Attendants at $95,230/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Costume Attendants earn $95,230 vs. $36,300 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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