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Salary comparison

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

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

Recreation Workers
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$36,560
$32,150
Hourly rate
$17.58/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$27,600
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$50,410
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
331,490
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
4.1%
3.4%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Recreation Workers median pay.

State
Recreation Workers
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
District of Columbia
$46,460
$37,960
Washington
$44,890
$37,790
Hawaii
$41,000
$39,920
California
$39,780
$37,000
Oregon
$39,610
$35,400
Colorado
$38,820
$35,770
Massachusetts
$38,540
$34,440
New York
$38,040
$36,300
Alaska
$37,510
$45,680
Maine
$37,450
$35,330
Vermont
$37,450
$35,290
Maryland
$37,200
$36,710
New Jersey
$36,880
$34,500
Connecticut
$36,610
$34,860
Arizona
$35,800
$33,570

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

Common questions

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

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

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

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, Recreation Workers or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Recreation Workers 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 Recreation Workers get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Recreation Workers at $46,460/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Recreation Workers earn $46,460 vs. $37,960 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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