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Salary comparison

Motion Picture Projectionists vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants: Who Earns More?

Motion Picture Projectionists out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Motion Picture Projectionists land at $38,270 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: motion picture projectionist programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Motion Picture Projectionists is New York ($82,260); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Motion Picture Projectionists
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$38,270
$32,150
Hourly rate
$18.4/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$23,390
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$88,310
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
1,480
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
-3.7%
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 Motion Picture Projectionists median pay.

State
Motion Picture Projectionists
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
New York
$82,260
$36,300
Illinois
$78,990
$32,770
California
$74,840
$37,000
Washington
$39,070
$37,790
Michigan
$37,590
$28,580
Ohio
$36,870
$26,980
Arizona
$32,890
$33,570
Texas
$31,160
$26,570
Pennsylvania
$29,850
$28,090
Missouri
$29,140
$29,790
Iowa
$23,210
$27,430
Tennessee
$22,750
$28,690

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Motion Picture Projectionists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Motion Picture Projectionists earn more nationally. The median is $38,270 for Motion Picture Projectionists versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Motion Picture Projectionists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 3.4% projected growth, compared to -3.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Motion Picture Projectionists or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Motion Picture Projectionists 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 Motion Picture Projectionists get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Motion Picture Projectionists at $82,260/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Motion Picture Projectionists vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Motion Picture Projectionists earn $82,260 vs. $36,300 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Motion Picture Projectionists salary breakdownView →Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Motion Picture Projectionists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a motion picture projectionistsGuide →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →