Amusement and Recreation Attendants Salary
The median pay for a amusement and recreation attendants in Columbia, MO is $31,200/year ($15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $34,884 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 54.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $31K actually covers in Columbia, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About amusement and recreation attendants
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What this looks like in Columbia
Amusement and recreation attendants pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $31K locally vs. $32K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 52.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for amusement and recreation attendants in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $29K | $31K |
| St. Louis | $31K | $33K |
| Springfield | $29K | $32K |
| Joplin | $29K | $33K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level amusement and recreation attendants (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $46K | +42% | 340 |
| Hawaii | $40K | +24% | 3,950 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +18% | 200 |
| Washington | $38K | +18% | 7,000 |
| California | $37K | +15% | 56,920 |
| Maryland | $37K | +14% | 9,200 |
| New York | $36K | +13% | 14,620 |
| Colorado | $36K | +11% | 10,820 |
| Oregon | $35K | +10% | 3,150 |
| Maine | $35K | +10% | 1,230 |
| Vermont | $35K | +10% | 800 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +8% | 2,440 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +7% | 14,060 |
| Massachusetts | $34K | +7% | 5,460 |
| Arizona | $34K | +4% | 6,930 |
| Illinois | $33K | +2% | 11,660 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | -3% | 760 |
| New Hampshire | $31K | -3% | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $31K | -3% | 1,360 |
| Virginia | $31K | -4% | 9,390 |
| Minnesota | $31K | -4% | 7,880 |
| Florida | $31K | -5% | 45,540 |
| Idaho | $31K | -5% | 2,010 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -6% | 5,450 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -6% | 2,620 |
| Nevada | $30K | -7% | 7,680 |
| Missouri | $30K | -7% | 8,080 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -8% | 1,850 |
| Montana | $30K | -8% | 1,890 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -9% | 1,700 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -11% | 4,820 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -11% | 760 |
| Michigan | $29K | -11% | 11,720 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -13% | 17,470 |
| North Dakota | $28K | -13% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $28K | -13% | 6,960 |
| Indiana | $28K | -14% | 6,740 |
| Iowa | $27K | -15% | 5,050 |
| Kentucky | $27K | -15% | 3,190 |
| South Carolina | $27K | -16% | 8,740 |
| Ohio | $27K | -16% | 11,780 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -16% | 2,250 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -17% | 14,120 |
| Texas | $27K | -17% | 28,360 |
| Kansas | $26K | -18% | 4,240 |
| Georgia | $26K | -19% | 8,770 |
| West Virginia | $25K | -22% | 800 |
| Alabama | $23K | -28% | 6,740 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -28% | 2,400 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -29% | 2,850 |
| Oklahoma | $22K | -31% | 2,430 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a amusement and recreation attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 52.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for amusement and recreation attendants in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new amusement and recreation attendants typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,038/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is amusement and recreation attendant a high-paying job in Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $31K locally vs. $32K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for amusement and recreation attendants?
Columbia pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $32K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do amusement and recreation attendants make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $31,200 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,600, and experienced amusement and recreation attendants can clear $39,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 52.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a amusement and recreation attendants salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median amusement and recreation attendants salary is worth about $34,884 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do amusement and recreation attendants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.