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Salary comparison

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs. Financial Managers: Who Earns More?

Financial Managers out-earn Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling by $87K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling land at $79,520 and Financial Managers at $166,570. The education gap is real: entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling programs typically require bachelor's degree, while financial manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is District of Columbia ($113,930); for Financial Managers it's New York ($219,880).

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Financial Managers
Median salary
$79,520
$166,570
Hourly rate
$38.23/hr
$80.08/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,270
$94,310
Senior level (90th %)
$139,110
$323,270
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
37,980
841,710
Job growth (10-year)
7.7%
14.8%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
New York

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling median pay.

State
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Financial Managers
District of Columbia
$113,930
$188,880
Minnesota
$107,660
$163,410
New York
$98,390
$219,880
Colorado
$97,000
$182,690
Washington
$96,790
$174,840
New Jersey
$89,590
$199,110
Massachusetts
$89,450
$206,760
Rhode Island
$88,750
$166,940
Georgia
$83,470
$166,790
California
$79,550
$180,770
Texas
$78,500
$164,860
Connecticut
$78,010
$174,830
North Carolina
$77,990
$166,780
Illinois
$77,310
$165,880
Virginia
$74,800
$185,220

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling or Financial Managers?

Financial Managers earn more nationally. The median is $79,520 for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling versus $166,570 for Financial Managers, a difference of $87K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling or Financial Managers?

Financial Managers has the better 10-year outlook at 14.8% projected growth, compared to 7.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling or Financial Managers?

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling typically requires bachelor's degree. Financial Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling at $113,930/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling vs. Financial Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling earn $113,930 vs. $188,880 for Financial Managers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salary breakdownView →Full Financial Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Financial Managers by take-home payExplore →How to become a entertainment and recreation managers, except gamblingGuide →How to become a financial managersGuide →